1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,600 Hey there, space explorers. 2 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:04,480 Ever heard of like a cosmic event that's so bright 3 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:07,760 it briefly outshines entire galaxies? 4 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:08,600 Whoa. 5 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,200 Yeah, we're talking about gamma ray bursts. 6 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,040 These like sudden flashes of intense energy 7 00:00:14,040 --> 00:00:18,880 that leave scientists baffled and like completely in awe. 8 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:20,280 Yeah, they're really incredible. 9 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:22,440 They're like the universe's own flash bulbs 10 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,960 going off billions of light years away 11 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:26,920 and leaving behind a trail of mysteries. 12 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:28,000 That's a great way to put it. 13 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,640 So today we're gonna try to unravel those mysteries 14 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:33,720 and discover what makes these gamma ray bursts 15 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:34,920 so fascinating. 16 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:36,840 Sounds good, I'm excited. 17 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:39,880 Welcome to Cosmos in a Podger Space and Astronomy series. 18 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,320 So what exactly are these gamma ray bursts? 19 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,080 Well, think of them as like the most powerful explosions 20 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:46,040 in the universe. 21 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:46,880 Wow. 22 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:49,040 Bursts of gamma radiation so intense 23 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,440 they can be seen clear across the cosmos. 24 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:52,280 That's mind blowing. 25 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:53,920 How long do these bursts last? 26 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:54,760 Well, it depends. 27 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:55,600 Okay. 28 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,520 We can mix them into long, short and ultra long bursts. 29 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:00,960 Some are over in a blink mere milliseconds 30 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,040 while others can blaze for hours. 31 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,720 Okay, so what creates these different kinds of bursts? 32 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,600 Are they all caused by the same thing? 33 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,360 That's where it gets really interesting. 34 00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:11,880 They actually have different cosmic origins. 35 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:14,720 Let's start with the long gamma ray bursts. 36 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,080 Imagine a star much bigger than our sun, 37 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:20,800 maybe 20 times bigger running out of fuel. 38 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:24,560 Its core collapses, imploding into a black hole 39 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:27,360 and boom, that's your long gamma ray burst. 40 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,160 So it's like a spectacular supernova, 41 00:01:29,160 --> 00:01:30,280 but even more dramatic. 42 00:01:30,280 --> 00:01:32,640 Exactly, and during this dramatic collapse, 43 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,960 incredibly powerful jets of particles shoot out, 44 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:37,920 traveling at nearly the speed of light. 45 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:38,760 Wow. 46 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:41,320 These jets burst through the star's outer layers 47 00:01:41,320 --> 00:01:44,400 and release those intense gamma rays we detect. 48 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:46,320 So it's a black hole birth announcement 49 00:01:46,320 --> 00:01:47,880 on a grand cosmic scale. 50 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:48,720 Precisely. 51 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,480 Now, short gamma ray bursts are a different beast altogether. 52 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:52,320 Okay. 53 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:54,520 We believe those happen when two of the densest objects 54 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:56,280 in the universe decide to tango. 55 00:01:56,280 --> 00:01:57,120 Oh, okay. 56 00:01:57,120 --> 00:02:00,520 Two neutron stars, or a neutron star in a black hole, 57 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:02,480 locked in a gravitational spiral. 58 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,880 Oh wow, so like a deadly cosmic dance. 59 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:07,680 Exactly, they spiral closer and closer, 60 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,800 losing energy through gravitational waves, 61 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,880 those ripples in space time until bam, they collide 62 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:17,400 and you get your short gamma ray burst. 63 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,240 Plus a brand new black hole 64 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,440 and even more gravitational waves spreading out. 65 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:22,440 That's right. 66 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:23,280 Wow. 67 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,720 But ultra long bursts, those lasting for hours, 68 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:28,360 they're still a bit of an enigma. 69 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:29,200 Okay. 70 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:30,880 There are a few theories floating around. 71 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:31,720 Like what? 72 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:34,160 Well, some scientists suspect they might be tied 73 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:36,400 to the death of truly gargantuan stars, 74 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,800 even bigger than the ones causing long bursts. 75 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:40,720 So an even more epic explosion. 76 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:41,920 Potentially, yes. 77 00:02:41,920 --> 00:02:42,760 Wow. 78 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,560 Another intriguing idea involves magnetars. 79 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:46,400 Okay. 80 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:48,320 These are neutron stars, already incredibly dense, 81 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:49,800 but with magnetic fields 82 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:51,920 trillions of times stronger than Earth's. 83 00:02:51,920 --> 00:02:53,200 Wow, that's a... 84 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:56,480 Imagine the energy released when those magnetic fields shift. 85 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:57,520 That sounds intense. 86 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,040 Could those shifts trigger gamma ray bursts? 87 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:00,880 Possibly. 88 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:01,880 There's still a lot we don't know 89 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:03,560 about these ultra long events. 90 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:06,400 Okay, so we've got exploding stars, 91 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,240 colliding neutron stars and super magnetic neutron stars. 92 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,440 Yeah. 93 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:13,480 Are there any other theories out there, 94 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,600 even if they're a bit more out there? 95 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,160 Well, there's always the white hole theory. 96 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,000 Okay. 97 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:20,720 Some scientists speculate that gamma ray bursts 98 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:22,440 might be connected to white holes. 99 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:23,280 Oh, okay. 100 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:25,440 The theoretical opposites of black holes, 101 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:28,960 where matter and energy gush out instead of being sucked in. 102 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:29,800 Oh, interesting. 103 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:30,620 Yeah. 104 00:03:30,620 --> 00:03:32,000 So instead of a black hole birth announcement, 105 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,800 it's like a white hole's, I'm here, signal. 106 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:36,640 Exactly. 107 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:37,480 Okay. 108 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:38,300 It's a fascinating idea, 109 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:40,280 but remember, white holes are still theoretical. 110 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:41,120 Right. 111 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:41,940 But I haven't actually observed one yet. 112 00:03:41,940 --> 00:03:45,240 So we've talked about what causes these bursts, 113 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:46,640 but how do they actually work? 114 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,560 How is all that energy released so suddenly? 115 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:50,440 That's where things get really mind bending. 116 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:51,280 Okay. 117 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,840 Imagine a beam of superheated matter called plasma 118 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,720 shooting out from the source of the burst 119 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:58,280 at almost the speed of light. 120 00:03:58,280 --> 00:03:59,360 Almost the speed of light. 121 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:00,600 That's hard to even grasp. 122 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:01,440 It is. 123 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:03,960 These beams are called relativistic jets 124 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,440 and they're incredibly focused like cosmic lasers. 125 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,040 And these jets are what create the gamma rays. 126 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:10,880 Exactly. 127 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:11,700 Wow. 128 00:04:11,700 --> 00:04:14,080 It's a complex process involving high energy particles 129 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,400 interacting with magnetic fields and photons. 130 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:17,240 Okay. 131 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:20,020 Think of it like a cosmic particle accelerator. 132 00:04:20,020 --> 00:04:22,240 Okay, I'm trying to picture that. 133 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,060 A cosmic accelerator shooting out 134 00:04:24,060 --> 00:04:26,360 these incredible jets of energy, 135 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,840 but what happens after the initial burst? 136 00:04:28,840 --> 00:04:30,800 Is that it lights out? 137 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:31,640 Not quite. 138 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,400 There's an encore, if you will, called the afterglow. 139 00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:35,240 Right. 140 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:36,960 It's like the fading embers of a fire, 141 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:40,080 but instead of heat, we see lower energy radiation, 142 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,040 X-rays, visible light, even radio waves. 143 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:45,480 So it's like a cosmic echo of the initial explosion. 144 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:46,400 You could say that. 145 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:47,240 Yeah. 146 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,560 And by studying this afterglow, 147 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,000 we can learn a lot about the environment around the burst, 148 00:04:51,000 --> 00:04:52,480 what kind of star exploded, 149 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,840 or the properties of the objects that collided. 150 00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:55,680 Okay. 151 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:58,100 It even helps us figure out how far away the burst occurred. 152 00:04:58,100 --> 00:05:00,700 So the afterglow is like a cosmic fingerprint 153 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:03,680 giving us clues about the event itself and its location. 154 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:04,520 Precisely. 155 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,880 And it can last for days, weeks, even months, 156 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,220 giving astronomers plenty of time to study it. 157 00:05:09,220 --> 00:05:10,520 This is incredible. 158 00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,000 But wait, how do we even detect 159 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,260 these gamma ray bursts happening 160 00:05:15,260 --> 00:05:16,380 billions of light years away? 161 00:05:16,380 --> 00:05:18,380 It's not like we can just point a telescope 162 00:05:18,380 --> 00:05:19,320 and see them live. 163 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,040 That's right, it's not that simple. 164 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:22,960 Gamma rays are very high energy 165 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,440 and they don't make it through Earth's atmosphere. 166 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,880 To catch them, we need to have our eyes in space. 167 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:29,760 So we're talking telescopes in orbit. 168 00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:30,600 Exactly. 169 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:33,240 Satellites like the Swift Observatory, 170 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,080 the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope, 171 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:38,300 they're constantly scanning the sky, 172 00:05:38,300 --> 00:05:39,680 watching for these bursts. 173 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:42,500 They're like our cosmic watchdogs, always on alert. 174 00:05:42,500 --> 00:05:43,920 A great way to put it. 175 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,160 These satellites can detect the bursts, 176 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:47,680 pinpoint their location, 177 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:50,520 and even analyze the gamma ray emissions. 178 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,160 We're giving us a front row seat 179 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,120 to these cosmic explosions. 180 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,960 But isn't it just space telescopes doing the work? 181 00:05:56,960 --> 00:05:58,880 Don't we use Earth-based telescopes too? 182 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:00,240 Absolutely. 183 00:06:00,240 --> 00:06:02,720 Once a space telescope detects a burst, 184 00:06:02,720 --> 00:06:04,040 it sends out an alert, 185 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,720 and then ground-based telescopes all over the world 186 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:08,160 swing into action. 187 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:09,000 Oh. 188 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:10,160 It's like a global relay race 189 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,960 with everyone scrambling to observe the afterglow. 190 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:17,280 And by combining observations from space and Earth, 191 00:06:17,280 --> 00:06:19,520 we get a much clearer picture of what happened. 192 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:20,360 Exactly. 193 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:21,880 It's a true team effort. 194 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:22,720 Yeah. 195 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:24,960 And we can't forget about the newest players in the game, 196 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,360 gravitational wave detectors, like LIGO and Virgo. 197 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:29,200 Oh, right. 198 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:31,360 Those are the ones that detect ripples in space-time, right? 199 00:06:31,360 --> 00:06:33,400 What do they have to do with gamma ray bursts? 200 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:35,380 Well, remember how we talked about 201 00:06:35,380 --> 00:06:38,760 short bursts being caused by neutron star collisions? 202 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:39,600 Right. 203 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:41,920 Those collisions also release gravitational waves? 204 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,280 So we can actually hear the collision that caused the burst. 205 00:06:45,280 --> 00:06:46,480 In a way, yes. 206 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:47,320 Wow. 207 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:49,120 When LIGO and Virgo detect these waves, 208 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,360 and at the same time a gamma ray burst is observed, 209 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:53,960 well, it's like getting confirmation 210 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:55,320 from two different senses. 211 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:56,160 Right. 212 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,040 It reinforces our understanding of what causes those bursts 213 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,040 and gives us incredible insights 214 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,720 into the physics of neutron star mergers. 215 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:05,720 It's like witnessing a cosmic collision 216 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:07,480 from two completely different perspectives. 217 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:08,320 Yeah. 218 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:09,840 This is absolutely fascinating. 219 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,020 We've talked about what causes these gamma ray bursts 220 00:07:13,020 --> 00:07:14,620 and how we detect them, 221 00:07:14,620 --> 00:07:16,840 but what do they actually tell us about the universe? 222 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:18,080 What's the bigger picture here? 223 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:21,840 Well, for one, they act like windows into extreme physics. 224 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:22,680 Okay. 225 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:26,240 We're talking matter moving at nearly the speed of light, 226 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,040 incredibly intense magnetic fields, 227 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:32,360 the birth of black holes, all happening in environments 228 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,800 we can't even dream of replicating here on Earth. 229 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,120 So they're like natural laboratories 230 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,080 letting us observe physics at its most extreme. 231 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:39,900 Exactly. 232 00:07:39,900 --> 00:07:42,080 But they also teach us a lot about the life 233 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,320 and death of stars, especially those massive ones. 234 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:45,160 Right. 235 00:07:45,160 --> 00:07:46,720 Long gamma ray bursts in particular 236 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,840 are linked to their dramatic deaths. 237 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,160 So by studying these bursts, 238 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:53,000 we can learn about the entire life cycle of these stars. 239 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:53,840 Precisely. 240 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:54,660 Yeah. 241 00:07:54,660 --> 00:07:56,040 And when those massive stars explode, 242 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:57,440 they don't just disappear. 243 00:07:57,440 --> 00:07:58,280 Yeah. 244 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:00,340 They seed the cosmos with heavy elements, 245 00:08:00,340 --> 00:08:01,760 the building blocks of planets, 246 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,240 and ultimately life itself. 247 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,840 It's incredible to think that we might be made of stardust 248 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:10,120 forged in these distant explosions. 249 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:10,940 It is. 250 00:08:10,940 --> 00:08:12,940 And there's another amazing thing about gamma ray bursts. 251 00:08:12,940 --> 00:08:13,780 What's that? 252 00:08:13,780 --> 00:08:16,680 They're so bright, they act like cosmic lighthouses, 253 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:19,360 helping us see across vast distances 254 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:21,680 and learn about the early universe. 255 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,020 Cosmic lighthouses. 256 00:08:23,020 --> 00:08:23,960 How does that work? 257 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:24,880 Think of it this way. 258 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:26,260 Because they're so bright, 259 00:08:26,260 --> 00:08:28,920 we can see them from billions of light years away. 260 00:08:28,920 --> 00:08:29,760 Right. 261 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,120 By measuring how much their light has stretched, 262 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:33,720 what we call redshift, 263 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,800 we can figure out how far away they are 264 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:38,820 and how fast the universe was expanding back then. 265 00:08:38,820 --> 00:08:40,840 So they're like cosmic yardsticks 266 00:08:40,840 --> 00:08:44,320 helping us measure the vastness of space and time. 267 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:45,160 Exactly. 268 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:46,960 And as we've already touched on, 269 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:49,000 the study of short gamma ray bursts 270 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:51,720 combined with those gravitational wave detections 271 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,040 is revolutionizing what we call multi-messenger astronomy. 272 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:55,860 Right. 273 00:08:55,860 --> 00:08:57,400 Combining different ways of observing the same event 274 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:58,880 to get a complete picture. 275 00:08:58,880 --> 00:08:59,720 Yes. 276 00:08:59,720 --> 00:09:01,960 This approach is giving us a deeper understanding 277 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:03,560 of the universe than ever before. 278 00:09:03,560 --> 00:09:05,840 I'm completely in awe of these cosmic events 279 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:06,960 and what they can teach us. 280 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:07,840 I am too. 281 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,280 Are there any particular gamma ray bursts that stand out? 282 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:14,200 Ones that have really captured the attention of scientists? 283 00:09:14,200 --> 00:09:15,600 Oh, definitely. 284 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:18,640 There are a few that have become almost legendary 285 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,320 in the world of astronomy. 286 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:24,760 One that comes to mind is GRB 080319B, 287 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:27,960 which earned the nickname the naked eye burst. 288 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:29,760 The naked eye burst. 289 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:30,780 That sounds intense. 290 00:09:30,780 --> 00:09:31,620 It was. 291 00:09:31,620 --> 00:09:33,960 This burst was so incredibly bright 292 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:35,400 that for about 37s, 293 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:37,920 you could actually see it with the naked eye here on Earth. 294 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:39,320 Wait, people could have just looked up 295 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,600 and seen this cosmic explosion 296 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:43,640 happening billions of light years away. 297 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:45,580 If they were looking at just the right spot in the sky 298 00:09:45,580 --> 00:09:47,080 at the right time, yes. 299 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:48,740 Remember, this burst originated 300 00:09:48,740 --> 00:09:51,960 a staggering 7.5 billion light years away. 301 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:53,040 That's just mind blowing. 302 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:54,920 It must have been unbelievably powerful 303 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:56,480 to be visible from that distance. 304 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:58,640 It was a truly remarkable event, 305 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,760 a testament to the sheer power of these cosmic explosions. 306 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:02,720 Wow. 307 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:04,760 Are there any other notable gamma ray bursts 308 00:10:04,760 --> 00:10:05,600 that come to mind? 309 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:06,420 Absolutely. 310 00:10:06,420 --> 00:10:09,720 Another significant one is GRB 12108-sum-sin-a. 311 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:10,600 Okay. 312 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,000 This one holds a special place in astronomy history 313 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,920 because it was the first gamma ray burst 314 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:17,200 directly linked to a gravitational wave event. 315 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,240 So we actually detected those ripples 316 00:10:19,240 --> 00:10:21,520 in space time caused by the burst. 317 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:22,360 We did. 318 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,100 And it confirmed what scientists had long suspected 319 00:10:25,100 --> 00:10:28,100 that short gamma ray bursts are indeed caused 320 00:10:28,100 --> 00:10:30,120 by the merger of neutron star. 321 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:31,560 What an incredible confirmation. 322 00:10:31,560 --> 00:10:33,800 It must have been a monumental moment for the field. 323 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:34,640 It was. 324 00:10:34,640 --> 00:10:35,480 Yeah. 325 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:37,080 It marked the beginning of a new era 326 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:38,980 for multi-messenger astronomy, 327 00:10:38,980 --> 00:10:41,880 where we can combine observations of light and gravity 328 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,800 to understand these events like never before. 329 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:46,960 It's amazing how we're constantly finding new ways 330 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:49,160 to see the universe. 331 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:50,040 It is. 332 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:52,520 But you mentioned earlier that some gamma ray bursts 333 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,280 can offer a glimpse into the early universe. 334 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:55,120 Yeah. 335 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,080 Is there a particular one that stands out in that regard? 336 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:57,920 Yes, there is. 337 00:10:57,920 --> 00:10:58,740 Okay. 338 00:10:58,740 --> 00:11:00,600 GRB 090423. 339 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:01,440 Okay. 340 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,680 This one is one of the most distant gamma ray bursts 341 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:04,520 ever detected. 342 00:11:04,520 --> 00:11:05,720 How far away are we talking? 343 00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:06,560 Prepare to be amazed, 344 00:11:06,560 --> 00:11:09,200 it originated over 13 billion years ago. 345 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:11,080 That means we're seeing light that's been traveling 346 00:11:11,080 --> 00:11:13,160 for almost the entire age of the universe. 347 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:14,000 That's right. 348 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:14,820 Wow. 349 00:11:14,820 --> 00:11:17,760 When we observe GRB 090423, 350 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:19,840 we're essentially looking back in time, 351 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,200 witnessing a cataclysmic event that took place 352 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:23,920 when the universe was just a baby. 353 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:25,600 It's like having a time machine, 354 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:28,320 letting us peer into the universe's distant past. 355 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:29,560 Precisely. 356 00:11:29,560 --> 00:11:32,980 And these distant gamma ray bursts are incredibly valuable 357 00:11:32,980 --> 00:11:35,320 because they provide clues about the conditions 358 00:11:35,320 --> 00:11:37,020 in that early universe. 359 00:11:37,020 --> 00:11:39,880 The chemical makeup, the rate of star formation, 360 00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:43,120 even the properties of the very first stars in galaxies. 361 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:45,640 So these bursts are like cosmic fossils. 362 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:46,480 Yeah. 363 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:48,760 Preserving information about the universe's infancy. 364 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,000 That's a great analogy. 365 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:51,820 They offer us a unique window 366 00:11:51,820 --> 00:11:53,440 into a period of cosmic history 367 00:11:53,440 --> 00:11:56,040 that's incredibly difficult to study otherwise. 368 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:59,680 It's mind boggling to think that we can actually observe 369 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:02,540 these events that happened billions of years ago, 370 00:12:02,540 --> 00:12:04,600 events that played a crucial role 371 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,600 in shaping the universe as we know it. 372 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:07,920 It really is remarkable. 373 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:08,760 Yeah. 374 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:10,920 And as our telescopes become even more powerful, 375 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,240 we can expect to discover even more distant gamma ray bursts, 376 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,000 pushing back the boundaries of our cosmic horizon 377 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,000 and peering even further back in time. 378 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:20,240 This is all so fascinating. 379 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,760 Gamma ray bursts are truly incredible tools 380 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:23,960 for understanding the universe. 381 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:24,800 They are. 382 00:12:24,800 --> 00:12:26,960 And they allow us to tackle some of the most fundamental 383 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:28,880 questions about the universe itself. 384 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:29,720 Like what? 385 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,360 Well, we can use them to test Einstein's theory 386 00:12:32,360 --> 00:12:34,080 of general relativity in environments 387 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,160 with incredibly strong gravity. 388 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:37,000 Right. 389 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:38,040 That's the theory that explains gravity 390 00:12:38,040 --> 00:12:39,600 as the curvature of space time, right? 391 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:40,440 Exactly. 392 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:41,880 And gamma ray bursts, 393 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:45,600 particularly those associated with merging neutron stars, 394 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:49,440 offer us natural laboratories to see how this theory holds up 395 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,440 under some of the most extreme gravitational conditions 396 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:53,560 in the universe. 397 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:56,440 So these bursts are essentially testing grounds 398 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:58,920 for some of our most important scientific theories. 399 00:12:58,920 --> 00:12:59,960 Precisely. 400 00:12:59,960 --> 00:13:02,640 And so far, Einstein's theory has passed every test 401 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:03,680 with flying colors. 402 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:04,520 Yeah. 403 00:13:04,520 --> 00:13:06,600 But each new observation gives us another chance 404 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,960 to refine our understanding of gravity 405 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,640 and its role in shaping the universe we see. 406 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:13,040 This is all so mind blowing. 407 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:13,880 It is. 408 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:14,720 I'm so excited to learn more 409 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,240 about the mysteries of the cosmos. 410 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:17,840 Well, I'm excited to share them with you. 411 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:18,800 And with our listeners. 412 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:19,720 Yeah, definitely. 413 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:21,640 And with our listeners. 414 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:25,000 Ready to dive back into the world of gamma ray bursts. 415 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:26,960 We left off talking about how these events 416 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,440 were helping us test some of the most fundamental theories 417 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:30,320 in physics. 418 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:31,160 I'm ready. 419 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:33,040 But I'm also curious about some of the challenges 420 00:13:33,040 --> 00:13:36,160 scientists face in studying these bursts. 421 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:36,960 Yeah. 422 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:38,920 What are some of the hurdles they have to overcome? 423 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:40,680 Well, one of the biggest challenges 424 00:13:40,680 --> 00:13:44,840 is that gamma ray bursts are incredibly unpredictable. 425 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:46,440 What do you mean by unpredictable? 426 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:50,080 We can't predict when or where the next one will occur. 427 00:13:50,080 --> 00:13:52,600 They can happen at any time in any direction 428 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:54,320 with absolutely no warning. 429 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:56,200 So it's like a cosmic guessing game. 430 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:57,600 In a way, yes. 431 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:58,400 Wow. 432 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:00,960 Our telescopes are constantly scanning the sky, 433 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:03,440 hoping to catch the next burst as it happens. 434 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:04,040 OK. 435 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,520 It requires a lot of patience and a bit of luck. 436 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,760 It sounds like astronomers have to be constantly 437 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:11,480 on their toes, ready to spring into action 438 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:12,440 at a moment's notice. 439 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:13,360 Exactly. 440 00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:17,000 When a burst is detected, it triggers a flurry of activity. 441 00:14:17,000 --> 00:14:17,480 Oh, wow. 442 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,080 Teams around the world scramble to point their telescopes 443 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:21,560 at the right patch of sky. 444 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:22,040 Right. 445 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:24,480 And they have to work quickly because those initial bursts 446 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:26,040 are incredibly short-lived. 447 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:27,680 We talked about the afterglow earlier. 448 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:31,000 But how long does the initial burst itself actually last? 449 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,480 It varies, but many are over in just a few seconds, some even 450 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:35,040 less. 451 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:35,560 Wow. 452 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,120 By the time we detect them and get our telescopes pointed 453 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,760 in the right direction, the most intense part of the show 454 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,000 might already be over. 455 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,840 So it's like trying to understand a fireworks display 456 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:48,080 by only seeing the fading smoke trails. 457 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:49,360 That's a great analogy. 458 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:50,000 Yeah. 459 00:14:50,000 --> 00:14:51,760 We're missing crucial information 460 00:14:51,760 --> 00:14:53,840 about the very beginning of the burst, 461 00:14:53,840 --> 00:14:56,200 the moment when all that energy is first released. 462 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:56,760 Right. 463 00:14:56,760 --> 00:14:58,400 That's why scientists are always working 464 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:00,200 on new technologies and strategies 465 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:03,520 to try and catch these bursts earlier in their evolution. 466 00:15:03,520 --> 00:15:04,920 It sounds like a race against time 467 00:15:04,920 --> 00:15:07,640 trying to capture these fleeting moments of cosmic fury. 468 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:08,840 It absolutely is. 469 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:09,340 Yeah. 470 00:15:09,340 --> 00:15:11,000 And every millisecond counts if we 471 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:13,440 want to understand the extreme physics 472 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:14,720 at play in these events. 473 00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:18,560 OK, so unpredictability and the short duration 474 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,920 of those initial bursts are two major challenges. 475 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:22,200 Right. 476 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:23,160 Are there any others? 477 00:15:23,160 --> 00:15:25,160 Another big one is the difficulty 478 00:15:25,160 --> 00:15:28,800 in observing those incredibly faint gamma ray bursts. 479 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:29,520 OK. 480 00:15:29,520 --> 00:15:34,000 Not all bursts produce bright, easily observable afterglows. 481 00:15:34,000 --> 00:15:34,500 Right. 482 00:15:34,500 --> 00:15:37,760 Some are just too faint for our telescopes to pick up clearly. 483 00:15:37,760 --> 00:15:39,880 So it's like trying to hear a whisper in a hurricane. 484 00:15:39,880 --> 00:15:41,280 Exactly. 485 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,800 Those fainter bursts are harder to study. 486 00:15:43,800 --> 00:15:44,280 Yeah. 487 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,280 And we might be missing a whole population of them 488 00:15:46,280 --> 00:15:48,920 simply because they're too dim for our current instruments 489 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:49,740 to detect. 490 00:15:49,740 --> 00:15:52,080 It makes you wonder what other secrets the universe 491 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:53,040 is hiding from us. 492 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:53,440 Yeah. 493 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:55,240 Just because we haven't developed the tools 494 00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:56,000 to see them yet. 495 00:15:56,000 --> 00:15:56,840 Absolutely. 496 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:57,560 Wow. 497 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,720 And even when we do detect a gamma ray burst, 498 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:03,840 understanding the environment where it occurred is crucial. 499 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:04,360 Right. 500 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,000 We need more information about the galaxies 501 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,600 where these bursts are happening, 502 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:12,040 the types of stars involved, and the conditions surrounding 503 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:12,560 them. 504 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,640 So it's not just about catching the burst itself. 505 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:17,560 It's about understanding the context, the bigger picture. 506 00:16:17,560 --> 00:16:18,400 Precisely. 507 00:16:18,400 --> 00:16:21,440 And that requires careful observation and analysis, 508 00:16:21,440 --> 00:16:25,320 piecing together the clues to understand the full story. 509 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:27,920 Now, we've talked about the observational challenges. 510 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,960 But are there also theoretical hurdles 511 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:31,400 that scientists are grappling with? 512 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:32,160 Definitely. 513 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:34,360 One of the most perplexing theoretical puzzles 514 00:16:34,360 --> 00:16:37,880 is the origin of those ultra long gamma ray bursts. 515 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:39,400 The ones that last for hours, right? 516 00:16:39,400 --> 00:16:40,720 I remember you mentioning those earlier. 517 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:41,220 Yes. 518 00:16:41,220 --> 00:16:43,320 It's hard to imagine what could possibly sustain 519 00:16:43,320 --> 00:16:44,600 such a burst for that long. 520 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:45,640 Exactly. 521 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:47,640 It challenges our current understanding of stellar 522 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:48,440 physics. 523 00:16:48,440 --> 00:16:49,320 Wow. 524 00:16:49,320 --> 00:16:51,180 We have some ideas, of course. 525 00:16:51,180 --> 00:16:52,960 What are some of the leading theories? 526 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:55,840 One possibility is that they're linked to the collapse 527 00:16:55,840 --> 00:16:59,200 of supermassive stars, stars hundreds or even 528 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:02,120 thousands of times more massive than our sun. 529 00:17:02,120 --> 00:17:06,600 These hypothetical stars would be true behemoths. 530 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,880 And their deaths would release unimaginable amounts of energy. 531 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:13,960 It's mind boggling to even think about stars that large. 532 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:14,480 It is. 533 00:17:14,480 --> 00:17:16,840 But there are other possibilities as well. 534 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:19,360 Perhaps ultra long bursts are the result 535 00:17:19,360 --> 00:17:21,920 of some kind of interaction between a black hole 536 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:23,400 and the matter surrounding it. 537 00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,360 So like a black hole feeding frenzy, 538 00:17:25,360 --> 00:17:27,080 but on a much grander scale? 539 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:27,800 Exactly. 540 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,120 As a black hole devours matter, it 541 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:32,680 can release tremendous amounts of energy. 542 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:34,680 And it's possible that this could power a burst 543 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:36,120 lasting for hours. 544 00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:38,720 It's like the black hole is a cosmic engine, 545 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:41,120 driving these incredibly powerful events. 546 00:17:41,120 --> 00:17:43,240 It's a fascinating possibility that researchers 547 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:45,240 are actively exploring. 548 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,360 But for now, the true origin of ultra long gamma ray bursts 549 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:51,680 remains one of the biggest unsolved mysteries 550 00:17:51,680 --> 00:17:52,720 in astronomy. 551 00:17:52,720 --> 00:17:54,920 It seems like there's still so much we don't know 552 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:56,480 about these enigmatic bursts. 553 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:57,440 There is. 554 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,160 But that's what makes studying them so exciting. 555 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:03,200 Every new discovery opens up new avenues of research, 556 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,920 leading us deeper into the mysteries of the universe. 557 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:08,760 It's like we're piecing together a giant cosmic puzzle. 558 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:11,440 And each gamma ray burst is another piece that 559 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,240 helps us see the bigger picture. 560 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,040 That's a great way to think about it. 561 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:17,040 And with each new piece, we get closer 562 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,120 to understanding the fundamental laws of physics 563 00:18:19,120 --> 00:18:21,760 and the grand story of how our universe came to be. 564 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:23,080 This is all so inspiring. 565 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:23,600 It is. 566 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:25,640 It makes you realize how much there is still 567 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,000 left to discover out there. 568 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:27,880 It does. 569 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,720 And it highlights the importance of continued exploration 570 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:32,960 and the ingenuity of the scientists who 571 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:36,160 are working tirelessly to unravel these cosmic secrets. 572 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,480 I, for one, am eager to hear about the progress they make. 573 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:40,120 Yeah. 574 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:42,760 It seems like the future of gamma ray burst research 575 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:44,160 is full of promise. 576 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:45,520 It absolutely is. 577 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:46,000 OK. 578 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:48,720 We have a new generation of telescopes coming online, 579 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,200 both in space and on the ground, that 580 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,280 will allow us to observe these bursts in greater detail 581 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:55,640 than ever before. 582 00:18:55,640 --> 00:18:57,800 We'll be able to capture those fleeting moments 583 00:18:57,800 --> 00:19:00,760 of cosmic fury with incredible precision. 584 00:19:00,760 --> 00:19:03,320 So we'll be able to zoom in and see these events unfolding 585 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:04,960 with even greater clarity. 586 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:06,080 Exactly. 587 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:07,560 And with the continued development 588 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:10,000 of multi-messenger astronomy, we'll 589 00:19:10,000 --> 00:19:12,880 be able to combine observations of gamma rays 590 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,320 with gravitational waves, neutrinos, and other signals. 591 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:16,800 Wow. 592 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,960 This will give us a truly holistic view 593 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,080 of these cosmic events, allowing us 594 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:22,800 to peel back the layers of mystery 595 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:24,240 and see them in a whole new light. 596 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:26,440 It's like we're building a cosmic orchestra. 597 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,480 And each new instrument we add brings us closer 598 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:31,360 to hearing the full symphony of the universe. 599 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:33,000 That's a beautiful way to put it. 600 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:36,640 And gamma ray bursts are playing a leading role in that symphony, 601 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,480 guiding us toward a deeper understanding of the cosmos 602 00:19:39,480 --> 00:19:40,560 and our place within it. 603 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:41,080 Yeah. 604 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:43,360 But for now, let's take a quick break. 605 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:45,000 When we come back, we'll explore some 606 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:47,000 of the most exciting questions that still 607 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:49,840 remain about gamma ray bursts and delve 608 00:19:49,840 --> 00:19:51,560 into the cutting edge research that's 609 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:53,800 pushing the boundaries of our knowledge 610 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:56,160 about these incredible events. 611 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,600 Welcome back to Cosmos in a Pod. 612 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,520 We've been on quite a journey exploring 613 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:02,680 these incredible gamma ray bursts. 614 00:20:02,680 --> 00:20:03,480 We have. 615 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,440 From those serendipitous early discoveries 616 00:20:06,440 --> 00:20:09,120 to the ongoing quest to understand their role 617 00:20:09,120 --> 00:20:11,880 in shaping the universe, it's been an amazing ride. 618 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:12,680 It really has. 619 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:15,720 And I'm especially intrigued by those lingering mysteries 620 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,480 we touched on earlier, the ones that 621 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:18,760 keep astronomers up at night. 622 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:19,760 Oh, yeah. 623 00:20:19,760 --> 00:20:21,120 Let's dive back into those, shall we? 624 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:21,720 Absolutely. 625 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:23,080 Where would you like to start? 626 00:20:23,080 --> 00:20:25,400 Well, those ultra long gamma ray bursts, 627 00:20:25,400 --> 00:20:26,800 the ones that last for hours. 628 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:27,680 Oh. 629 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:29,120 They really captured my imagination. 630 00:20:29,120 --> 00:20:29,800 Yeah. 631 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:32,120 What are the latest thoughts on what could possibly 632 00:20:32,120 --> 00:20:34,440 power such sustained bursts of energy? 633 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:37,040 It's a question that continues to puzzle scientists. 634 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:37,540 Yeah. 635 00:20:37,540 --> 00:20:40,600 The energy scales involved are simply mind boggling. 636 00:20:40,600 --> 00:20:43,480 It seems like they defy our current understanding of how 637 00:20:43,480 --> 00:20:44,840 stars live and die. 638 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:46,880 They do challenge our existing models. 639 00:20:46,880 --> 00:20:48,520 One intriguing avenue of research 640 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,600 involves the possibility of quasi stars. 641 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:52,640 Quasi stars, OK. 642 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:55,360 Imagine a massive early universe star 643 00:20:55,360 --> 00:20:57,520 with a black hole at its core. 644 00:20:57,520 --> 00:20:59,840 Instead of collapsing completely, 645 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:01,920 the black hole keeps accreting matter 646 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:04,640 from the star's outer layers, releasing 647 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:06,640 tremendous amounts of energy in the process. 648 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,120 So it's like a star with a black hole heart, 649 00:21:09,120 --> 00:21:12,520 constantly feeding and fueling these incredible bursts. 650 00:21:12,520 --> 00:21:14,160 That's the idea. 651 00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:16,360 These quasi stars, if they exist, 652 00:21:16,360 --> 00:21:19,040 would be unlike anything we've observed before. 653 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:22,440 They could potentially explain those ultra long bursts that 654 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:23,720 have us scratching our heads. 655 00:21:23,720 --> 00:21:24,220 Yeah. 656 00:21:24,220 --> 00:21:25,560 It's a fascinating concept. 657 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,520 Are there any other theories being explored? 658 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:28,160 There are. 659 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:28,660 OK. 660 00:21:28,660 --> 00:21:30,760 Another line of thought involves the interaction 661 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:34,000 between a black hole and a dense disk of gas and dust 662 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:34,760 surrounding it. 663 00:21:34,760 --> 00:21:35,360 Right. 664 00:21:35,360 --> 00:21:37,640 As material falls into the black hole, 665 00:21:37,640 --> 00:21:41,200 it heats up and emits powerful radiation, potentially 666 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:42,520 including gamma rays. 667 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:45,440 So like a cosmic whirlpool with a black hole at the center, 668 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,680 swirling material around and generating 669 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:49,520 those intense bursts of energy. 670 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:50,680 Exactly. 671 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:52,460 And these systems could potentially 672 00:21:52,460 --> 00:21:55,880 produce bursts lasting for hours or even longer, 673 00:21:55,880 --> 00:21:57,480 depending on the amount of material 674 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,400 available to fuel the process. 675 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:00,840 This is all so mind blowing. 676 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:02,960 It seems like every answer we uncover 677 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:04,760 leads to even more questions. 678 00:22:04,760 --> 00:22:06,960 That's the beauty of scientific exploration. 679 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:07,460 Yeah. 680 00:22:07,460 --> 00:22:08,880 And speaking of questions, remember 681 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:11,760 those incredible relativistic jets we talked about, 682 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,120 the ones that shoot out from gamma ray bursts 683 00:22:14,120 --> 00:22:15,600 at nearly the speed of light? 684 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:16,100 Right. 685 00:22:16,100 --> 00:22:17,920 Well, understanding how those jets form 686 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:19,200 is another major challenge. 687 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:19,700 Right. 688 00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:21,980 We talked about them being like cosmic lasers. 689 00:22:21,980 --> 00:22:23,560 But how do they actually come about? 690 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,320 How does a dying star or a pair of merging neutron stars 691 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,560 manage to focus so much energy into those narrow beams? 692 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:33,400 It's a question that keeps theoretical astrophysicists 693 00:22:33,400 --> 00:22:33,960 busy. 694 00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:34,440 Yeah. 695 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,400 One of the most promising areas of research 696 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:38,560 involves the role of magnetic fields. 697 00:22:38,560 --> 00:22:39,240 OK. 698 00:22:39,240 --> 00:22:42,680 Imagine the intense magnetic fields of a collapsing star 699 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,440 or those generated during a neutron star merger. 700 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:46,040 OK. 701 00:22:46,040 --> 00:22:49,000 These fields could act like a cosmic nozzle channeling 702 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:52,280 the outflowing energy and matter into those focused jets. 703 00:22:52,280 --> 00:22:54,720 So it's like a magnetic funnel shaping and directing 704 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:55,600 the flow of energy. 705 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:56,200 Exactly. 706 00:22:56,200 --> 00:22:58,640 But it's not just about magnetic fields. 707 00:22:58,640 --> 00:22:59,160 Right. 708 00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:02,480 The rapid rotation of those collapsing stars 709 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:06,560 or merging neutron stars also likely plays a crucial role. 710 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:09,360 So it's a combination of those powerful magnetic fields 711 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:12,680 and incredible rotational forces working together 712 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,200 to create those awe-inspiring jets. 713 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:17,120 That's the current thinking. 714 00:23:17,120 --> 00:23:19,440 Of course, the details are incredibly complex, 715 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:21,800 and there's still much we don't understand. 716 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,440 But scientists are developing sophisticated computer 717 00:23:24,440 --> 00:23:27,320 simulations to model these processes 718 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:30,880 and get a clearer picture of how those jets form and evolve. 719 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,440 It's amazing to think that something as seemingly simple 720 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:36,560 as a beam of light can hold so many mysteries. 721 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:37,680 It is. 722 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:40,920 And it reminds us that even the most familiar phenomena 723 00:23:40,920 --> 00:23:44,080 can hide incredible complexity when we look closely enough. 724 00:23:44,080 --> 00:23:45,760 And those complexities have implications 725 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:47,320 beyond the bursts themselves, right? 726 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:47,640 Right. 727 00:23:47,640 --> 00:23:50,160 We talked earlier about the impact gamma-ray bursts 728 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,880 can have on their surroundings, on the evolution of galaxies. 729 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:53,480 Exactly. 730 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:55,920 Those bursts release immense amounts of energy, 731 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:57,840 and that energy has to go somewhere. 732 00:23:57,840 --> 00:24:02,000 It can heat up gas in galaxies, influence star formation, 733 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,840 and even spread heavy elements throughout the cosmos. 734 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,720 So these bursts aren't just isolated events. 735 00:24:07,720 --> 00:24:10,360 They're actively shaping the universe around them. 736 00:24:10,360 --> 00:24:11,440 Precisely. 737 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:13,280 One of the fascinating areas of research 738 00:24:13,280 --> 00:24:15,400 is studying how those bursts might have 739 00:24:15,400 --> 00:24:17,160 influenced the early universe. 740 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,160 What kind of influence are we talking about? 741 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:21,040 Well, in the early universe, galaxies 742 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,200 were smaller and closer together. 743 00:24:23,200 --> 00:24:26,720 A powerful gamma-ray burst could have potentially swept 744 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:30,280 through a neighboring galaxy, disrupting its gas clouds, 745 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:34,400 influencing its evolution, even triggering or halting star 746 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:35,320 formation. 747 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:37,880 So these bursts could have been instrumental in shaping 748 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,040 the very structure of the early universe. 749 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,280 That's a possibility scientists are exploring. 750 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:42,960 Wow. 751 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:45,800 It highlights how these seemingly distant and fleeting 752 00:24:45,800 --> 00:24:48,440 events can have profound and lasting impacts 753 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:49,680 on a cosmic scale. 754 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:51,560 It really underscores the interconnectedness 755 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:53,080 of everything in the universe, doesn't it? 756 00:24:53,080 --> 00:24:53,720 It does. 757 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,960 And it makes you wonder, what other connections are we 758 00:24:55,960 --> 00:24:56,360 missing? 759 00:24:56,360 --> 00:24:58,040 What other secrets of the universe 760 00:24:58,040 --> 00:24:59,640 are waiting to be uncovered? 761 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:01,600 That's what keeps me coming back to astronomy. 762 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:01,880 Yeah. 763 00:25:01,880 --> 00:25:03,640 There's always something new to discover, 764 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:05,320 always another mystery to solve. 765 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:06,880 I couldn't agree more. 766 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:08,920 And the future of gamma-ray burst research 767 00:25:08,920 --> 00:25:10,480 is brighter than ever. 768 00:25:10,480 --> 00:25:11,040 Yeah. 769 00:25:11,040 --> 00:25:13,440 We have a new generation of telescopes coming online, 770 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:15,560 like the James Webb Space Telescope 771 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:18,040 and the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array, 772 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,960 which will give us unprecedented views of these events. 773 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:23,640 So we'll be able to see those gamma-ray bursts in even 774 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:26,160 greater detail, capture those fleeting moments 775 00:25:26,160 --> 00:25:27,600 with even greater precision. 776 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:28,800 Exactly. 777 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,360 And with the continued growth of multi-messenger astronomy, 778 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:33,360 combining observations of gamma rays 779 00:25:33,360 --> 00:25:36,600 with gravitational waves, neutrinos, and other signals, 780 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:39,240 we're entering a golden age of discovery. 781 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:40,040 Wow. 782 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:42,560 We're poised to unravel the remaining mysteries 783 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,080 of these incredible cosmic beacons 784 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:47,680 and gain an even deeper understanding of the universe 785 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:48,600 we call home. 786 00:25:48,600 --> 00:25:51,480 It's an exciting time to be an astronomer, that's for sure. 787 00:25:51,480 --> 00:25:54,200 And it's inspiring to think about all the incredible discoveries 788 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:55,080 that await us. 789 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:55,760 It is. 790 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,960 And who knows what those discoveries will reveal? 791 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:01,040 Perhaps they'll challenge our most cherished theories. 792 00:26:01,040 --> 00:26:03,720 Or perhaps they'll open our eyes to entirely new phenomena 793 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:05,240 we haven't even imagined yet. 794 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:07,480 Well, folks, that concludes our deep dive 795 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:09,880 into the world of gamma-ray bursts. 796 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,960 We've covered a lot of ground from their accidental discovery 797 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,640 to their potential role in shaping the universe. 798 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:18,040 We've explored their origins, their mechanics, 799 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:21,140 the challenges of studying them, and the incredible insights 800 00:26:21,140 --> 00:26:23,640 they provide into the most extreme environments 801 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:24,720 in the cosmos. 802 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,560 We hope you've enjoyed this journey as much as we have. 803 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:29,960 And if you're hungry for more cosmic adventures, 804 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:32,840 be sure to follow and subscribe to Cosmos in a Pod. 805 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:35,000 And don't forget to check out our YouTube channel 806 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,640 for stunning visuals and animations that bring 807 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:39,720 these cosmic events to life. 808 00:26:39,720 --> 00:26:42,360 Until next time, keep looking up, keep wondering, 809 00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:44,920 and never stop exploring the wonders of the universe. 810 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,960 And keep listening to Cosmos in a Pod for more deep dives 811 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:54,960 into the most fascinating corners of space and astronomy.