Record-Breaking Gamma-Ray Burst Engine Active for Nearly a Month

A recent study details a gamma-ray burst that exhibited central engine activity for nearly a month. This discovery is significant because it far exceeds the typical duration of such cosmic events, which usually last only seconds or minutes.

The findings, shared via a preprint server, suggest that our current understanding of stellar collapse and black hole formation may need refinement. Scientists are now analyzing the data to determine the physical processes responsible for this record-breaking longevity.