On October 9, 2022, the solar system saw an unusual spike of strong radiation. Astronomers termed this unusual event BOAT (the Brightest of All Time), and it drew rapid attention. The cause of this phenomenon was identified as a gamma-ray burst (GRB), which is the most intense type of explosion known in the cosmos. A startling discovery has recently emerged: this brightest supernova did not produce any gold or platinum.
Astronomers have obtained a better understanding of the substantial scientific implications following a rigorous analysis of the collected data. They have made astounding discoveries about this huge cosmic event, the collapse of a massive star.
This burst of light, known as GRB 221009A, happened almost two billion light-years away and briefly dazzled space instruments.
A recent analysis of data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) reveals what could be the event’s genesis. Contrary to predictions, the researchers discovered no signs of precious metals such as platinum and gold, which are commonly associated with supernovas.
Dr. Peter Blanchard, leading the study, expressed surprise, stating, “When we confirmed that the GRB was generated by the collapse of a massive star, that gave us the opportunity to test a hypothesis for how some of the heaviest elements in the universe are formed.”
The absence of these heavy elements questions current theories about how they formed, prompting additional investigation into the cosmic processes at work.
“We did not see signatures of these heavy elements, suggesting that extremely energetic GRBs like the Boat do not produce these elements. That doesn’t mean that all GRBs do not produce them, but it’s a key piece of information as we continue to understand where these heavy elements come from. Future observations with JWST will determine if the Boat’s ‘normal’ cousins produce these elements,” Blanchard added.
While the specific source of the supernova’s brightness is unknown, astronomers believe the discharge of powerful plasma jets may have contributed to its intensity.
Eric Burns, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, led an investigation into approximately 7,000 GRBs, which were primarily detected by NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and the Russian Konus instrument on NASA’s Wind spacecraft.
The goal was to determine the frequency of such exceptionally bright events. According to their results, such events occur about once every 10,000 years.