Recently, according to the South China Morning Post, a well-known international media outlet in Hong Kong, a Chinese-led scientific research team captured rays produced by matter and antimatter colliding and annihilating each other at nearly the speed of light in what may be the largest cosmic explosion since the Big Bang.
By analyzing data from space telescopes in China and the United States, the research team found spectral lines with peaks of up to 37 million electron volts (37 MeV), a phenomenon known as the "brightest" (BOAT) gamma-ray burst ever.
Observers point out that in the past, such activities were often led by teams from the United States and the West, with China participating or "running along"; In recent years, China has made great strides in astronomy, cosmonasity, and space exploration, and this breakthrough discovery is led by China, with United States participation and reversal.
In any case, this discovery not only caused a stir in the global scientific community, but also provided important clues for us to further understand the mystery of the universe.
Detection of the strongest gamma-ray burst ever recorded
According to a report by a team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, they analyzed space telescope data from China and the United States and found a spectral line with an energy peak of 37 million electron volts (MeV).
This is the highest energy level ever detected from a gamma-ray burst. The results showed that the ejection of matter from the gamma-ray burst traveled at nearly 99.98% of the speed of light, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in the universe.
Researchers from the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said that this discovery has important and unique value for studying the physical properties and generation mechanisms of gamma-ray bursts. These energetic particles, including electrons and their antimatter pairs, positrons, emit gamma photons when they annihilate each other, forming the observed spectral lines.
Scientists have confirmed that the "brightest" gamma-ray burst in history stemmed from the death of a massive star in the direction of Sagittarius 2 billion years ago. The star ran out of fuel and eventually collapsed into a black hole and ejected a pair of jets into space.
When one of the jets reached Earth in October 2022, it was simultaneously observed by multiple space telescopes, including the United States NASA Fermi Space Telescope and China's GECAM-C.
This gamma-ray burst is so bright that it causes the detectors of some telescopes to become completely white. Thanks to the design and special mode of operation of the GECAM-C, it successfully recorded high-resolution, unsaturated data, providing accurate measurements for this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Last year, a team in Italy discovered for the first time a gamma-ray spectral line from Fermi data, with a starting energy of about 12 MeV.
The GECAM team in China, after independently processing the Fermi data and co-analyzing the GECAM-C data, not only confirmed the spectral lines in the time range reported by the Italy team, but also recovered a higher energy (37 MeV) spectral line at an earlier time point (four minutes after the outbreak detection). This joint analysis allowed the Chinese team to recover spectral line emissions with higher significance on a wider time scale.
Notably, China's Tibet High-Altitude Cosmic Ray Observatory has recorded gamma-ray photons with energies of up to tens of trillions of electron volts. Although individual photons and spectral lines are different, these high-energy photons are still an important source of data for the study of gamma-ray bursts.
This discovery not only demonstrates China's leading position in the field of high-energy astrophysics research, but also marks an important step forward for the global scientific community in understanding extreme energy events in the universe. With the continuous advancement of technology, we have reason to believe that more mysteries will be unveiled in the future, injecting new impetus into human exploration of the universe.
Revelation and reflection on the explosion of the universe
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are one of the most mysterious and powerful phenomena in the universe. They usually erupt billions of light-years away from Earth, releasing a huge amount of energy that can surpass the brightness of an entire galaxy for a short period of time.
The gamma-ray burst captured by the Chinese research team is not only a milestone in astronomical research, but also an important opportunity to advance our thinking about the evolution of the universe, the life cycle of stars, and their internal mechanisms.
First, the formation mechanism of gamma-ray bursts is closely related to the end of life of massive stars. When a massive star runs out of its core fuel, the internal pressure can no longer resist the gravitational collapse, eventually forming a black hole.
The ensuing jet jet throws material from the star's outer layers into space, forming gamma-ray bursts. The spectral lines of 37 million electron volts revealed in this study are the result of the mutual annihilation of electrons and positrons in this jet stream.
Understanding this process will not only help us understand the nature of gamma-ray bursts, but also provide important clues for subsequent cosmic exploration.
This study demonstrates the importance of international cooperation in scientific research. Chinese scientists worked with teams in the United States to make unprecedented discoveries through independent analysis and combination of data. This collaborative model not only improves the accuracy of data analysis, but also enhances the credibility of scientific research.
At present, scientific exploration is no longer the exclusive domain of any one country, but the common cause of scientists all over the world. It is this spirit of openness and sharing that drives science forward.
The discovery of this gamma-ray burst marks the beginning of a new era in scientific exploration. With the continuous advancement of technology, more and more cosmic phenomena will be unveiled. China's rapid development in the field of space science and astrophysics indicates that more original research results will be produced in the future.
A little summary
The discovery of gamma-ray bursts not only allows us to witness the most spectacular phenomenon in the universe, but also sends us a profound message: in the vast universe, we should cherish the fragile life and limited resources on the earth even more.
Although the universe is incomparably vast and human existence seems small and precious, it is this smallness that makes us more important to cherish what we have.
The progress of science should not only be an exploration of the mysteries of the universe, but also a commitment to improving human life and promoting the sustainable development of society.
With the development of technology, we will be able to better understand the laws of nature and apply this knowledge to protect the planet and promote human happiness and prosperity. As the study of gamma-ray bursts demonstrates, science belongs not only to scientists, but also to everyone who cares about the future.
This major scientific discovery not only demonstrates China's important role in the international scientific arena, but also points out the direction for future scientific research. The efforts of Chinese scientists in exploring the mysteries of the universe show that we can occupy a place in scientific research.
This discovery has encouraged more young people to devote themselves to the cause of science and stimulated the enthusiasm of the whole society for scientific exploration.
In the days to come, we look forward to more mysteries of the universe being revealed, and to new scientific discoveries that will bring us more profound thinking and the courage to explore.
Let us work together to face the challenges of the future and create a better world, guided by science. Because every step of scientific exploration is a solid step for mankind to enter the unknown.
By focusing on these important scientific discoveries, we can not only better understand the universe we live in, but also inspire us to face life's challenges with a more positive attitude.
Let us cherish this planet and life together, and continue to move forward under the light of science.