For 7 Hours, a Powerful Space Signal Pulsed Toward Earth — Unlike Anything in Years

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]Astronomers have just detected something that doesn't fit the usual rules of cosmic explosions. In 2025, telescopes recorded a gamma-ray burst, and what makes it extraordinary is its duration.

[00:00:12]Most gamma-ray bursts last only seconds, sometimes a few minutes, but this one continued for nearly 7 hours, making it the longest gamma-ray burst ever observed. Instead of one quick flash, scientists saw repeated pulses of high-energy radiation coming from the same point in the sky, suggesting the source stayed active far longer than expected. So, what could power something like this? Researchers believe it may have been caused by a rare event known as a helium merger, where a black hole spirals into a stripped helium star, consuming it over time and producing a sustained jet of gamma-rays. If confirmed, this could represent a new category of ultra-long gamma-ray bursts.

[00:00:53]To learn more about GRB, you can watch our full video on YouTube.