Record-Breaking Gamma Ray Burst from Distant Star Detected in Earth’s Ionosphere
A gamma-ray burst from a star 2 billion light-years away, designated GRB 221009A, struck Earth in October 2022. Detected by ESA’s Integral satellite and China’s CSES, it was the strongest ever measured, causing measurable disturbances in Earth’s ionosphere comparable to major solar flares. Researchers suggest such events may have contributed to past mass extinctions by damaging the ozone layer.