This is an image of the area of the sky where the gamma-ray burst was
observed. You'll see that the star at the center of the image has
significantly faded in the course of one day (indicating rapidly dimming
afterglow of the gamma ray burst).
Click on image for full size
NASA Photo Credit: Columbia University
The Biggest Explosion Since the Big Bang
News story originally written on May 11, 1998
A burst of energy was measured on December 14, 1997. Findings are just being released that claim that this burst is the most powerful explosion since the Big Bang!
This gamma-ray burst came from a faint galaxy 12 billion light years away. "The energy released by this burst in its first few seconds staggers the imagination," said Caltech professor Shrinivas Kulkarni. This burst released several hundred times more energy than a supernova!
Scientists are really not sure what could create this kind of explosion. Some scientists think the answer lies in black holes or something even more exotic!
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