US satellites hunting nuclear tests accidentally found first gamma-ray burst | TheBriefWire
US satellites hunting nuclear tests accidentally found first gamma-ray burst
Published 9 August 2026 ยท science
Gamma-ray bursts are among the most powerful explosions observed in the universe. First accidentally detected by Vela satellites in 1967, they puzzled scientists for decades
Gamma-ray bursts are among the most powerful explosions observed in the universe. First accidentally detected by Vela satellites in 1967, they puzzled scientists for decades. Research later showed that these bursts come from distant cosmic events, including massive stars collapsing and neutron star mergers. Yet their powerful jets still hold mysteries.