Unprecedented Gamma-Ray Burst Rocks Solar System.

On October 9, 2022, a gamma-ray burst (GRB) swept through the solar system, dubbed the BOAT, which was the brightest burst at X-ray and gamma-ray energies to occur since human civilization began. The burst was so bright it effectively blinded most gamma-ray instruments in space, which means they could not directly record the real intensity of the emission. Astronomers think most GRBs occur when the core of a massive star runs out of nuclear fuel, collapses under its own weight, and forms a black hole. The BOAT's afterglow may remain detectable by telescopes for several years, providing a novel opportunity to track the full life cycle of a powerful jet.