Remarkable space blast identified as black hole collision

A "remarkable" astronomical detonation is thought to person been triggered by the collision of stars with a achromatic hole, scientists person said.

The event, a gamma-ray burst, was detected by a abstraction scope and a NASA observatory.

A squad of scientists including University of Leicester physicists described the minute-long blast arsenic a uncommon cosmic event.

They said they hoped their probe would assistance the survey of aboriginal events.

Gamma ray bursts are the astir almighty explosions known successful the Universe.

This peculiar explosion, from a adjacent galaxy, was detected successful December 2021.

Scientists said the blast, named GRB 211211A, was comparatively lengthy with much infrared airy than they would usually expect to see.

Their probe suggests the airy came from a kilonova, an astral event, thought to beryllium generated arsenic neutron stars and a achromatic spread collide.

The probe squad was led by Jillian Rastinejad astatine Northwestern University successful the US.

It included experts from the universities of Birmingham and Leicester arsenic good arsenic Radboud University successful The Netherlands.

The researchers said they believed the detonation had produced elements specified arsenic golden and platinum.

Dr Matt Nicholl, an subordinate prof astatine the University of Birmingham, said the probe supported the thought that specified kilonovae "are the main factories of golden successful the Universe".

Dr Gavin Lamb, a post-doctoral researcher astatine the University of Leicester, said the burst had seen an excess of infrared airy from astir a time aft the burst.

Dr Benjamin Gompertz, an adjunct prof astatine the University of Birmingham, added the probe had breathtaking implications for aboriginal research.

He said: "This was a singular [gamma-ray burst.]

"We don't expect mergers to past much than astir 2 seconds. Somehow, this 1 powered a pitchy for astir a afloat minute."