Unprecedented Ultraviolet/Optical Flare Shines 400 Quadrillion Times Brighter Than the Sun

Scientists have detected the brightest ultraviolet/optical flare ever observed, known as GRB 220101A, using the Swift/UVOT satellite. This discovery challenges previous understandings of ultraviolet/optical bursts and suggests a unique astrophysical process. The flare's luminosity is approximately 400 quadrillion times that of the Sun, breaking a 14-year record. The findings highlight the diversity of physical origins for super-bright optical-ultraviolet bursts and pave the way for future research in this field.