Gamma-ray bursts are the universe's most powerful explosions

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are cosmic fireworks, erupting when massive stars, at least eight times our Sun's size, collapse into black holes. These events unleash jets of high-energy light, or gamma rays, at nearly the speed of light. First detected accidentally in 1967, a single GRB can release more energy in seconds than our Sun will in its entire 10-billion-year lifespan. They offer vital clues about star life cycles, black hole formation, and even the early universe. While too distant to harm Earth, GRBs highlight the violent processes that shaped early galaxies.