Using the powerful one-two combo of NASA’s Swift satellite and the Gemini Observatory, astronomers have detected a mysterious type of cosmic explosion farther back in time than ever before. The explosion, known as a short gamma-ray burst (GRB), took place 7.4 billion years ago, more than halfway back to the Big Bang. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Last September, a supernova burst into a cosmic flame 100 times more intense than any event on record—and left scientists scratching their heads. Now, two new studies attempt to explain the remarkable explosion. One sets up the explosion with a cannibalistic star, while the other describes how colliding layers of jettisoned gas could outshine all other supernovae. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Astronomers have discovered the most distant object in the universe -- a spectacular stellar explosion known as a gamma-ray burst located about 13 billion light years away. picked by AutumnLotus 7 months ago

Detailed images of the birth of cosmic dust were captured for the first time. A star that is about to die after a supernova explosion expels materials like cosmic dust into space, which will be the raw materials for planets and other life. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Astronomers recently captured a supernova's blinding flash "echoing" off dust 400 light-years from the detonation site in the Large Magellanic Cloud — which means Earthly observers may have seen the original blast 400 years ago. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

The most powerful explosion ever observed may have been even more powerful than first thought. Nearly three weeks after the bright 'gamma-ray burst' occurred, it is still outshining its host galaxy, dumbfounding astronomers with its amazing longevity. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

The US space agency's Fermi telescope has detected a massive explosion in space which scientists say is the biggest-ever gamma-ray burst. picked by AutumnLotus 9 months ago

The date of 2008.03.19 marked the brightest ever cosmic explosion observed from the Earth. The outburst denoted as GRB 080319B was probably the death of a massive star leading to the creation of a black hole. Watch video here. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Yesterday this was being reported as a gas pipeline explosion (http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/11413). Today it has become an explosion at a nuclear power station (assuming it is the same explosion - not sure). Here are some photos and vids.

If these are the same explosion, the way it is unfolding is reminding me a lot of how the Chernobyl/Pripyat explosion was reported picked by pocksucket 2 years ago

The spectacular blast demolished the entire front of his house, hurled masonry 50ft into the air and filled the street with rubble and glass. But because Jimmy was at the epicentre of the explosion it hurled all the debris away from him and he suffered only cuts and bruises. picked by BrownTrout 3 years ago

Astronomers from SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research have discovered a new cluster of galaxies, hidden behind a previously identified cluster of galaxies. The recently exposed cosmic giant is apparently just as bright as the first group, but is six times further away. The astronomers made the discovery as part of an international team using the space telescope XMM-Newton. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Like a cosmic Grim Reaper, a blast of ultraviolet light signals the violent death of the universe's most massive stars. Now astronomers have viewed this heavenly harbinger for the first time. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

Using ESO's Very Large Telescope, an international team of astronomers has discovered a stunning rare case of a triple merger of galaxies. This system, which astronomers have dubbed 'The Bird' - albeit it also bears resemblance with a cosmic Tinker Bell - is composed of two massive spiral galaxies and a third irregular galaxy. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

A tiny star recently unleashed what is considered the brightest burst of light ever seen in the universe from a normal star. Shining with only 1 percent of the sun's light and boasting just a third of the sun's mass, this run-of-the-mill star previously was nothing to write home about. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

The most energetic particles in the universe likely come from enormous black holes nestled in the restless hearts of traumatized galaxies, scientists say. Where these cosmic "bullets" originated has been a source of much speculation, with scientists proposing everything from gamma ray bursts to decaying dark matter. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Cosmic debris stripped away from the wreck of colliding galaxies has been found by the Subaru telescope atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii.

The debris fields could shed light on galaxy formation and starburst activity in the early universe by allowing astronomers to retrace the paths of the colliding galaxies before they merged. picked by AutumnLotus 6 months ago

A team of physicists and astronomers at the University of Sussex and Imperial College London have uncovered hints that there may be cosmic strings - lines of pure mass-energy - stretching across the entire Universe. picked by AutumnLotus 2 years ago

Boxun News, a Chinese-language Web site based outside China, reported that an unnamed expert has claimed that there was a nuclear explosion near the epicenter of the Sichuan earthquake, based on witness reports and the discovery of concrete rubble believed to have come from an underground military installation. The news of this nuclear explosion has raised questions about the cause of the earthqua... read full post picked by bingo 1 year ago

The origin of the microscopic meteorites that make up cosmic dust has been revealed for the first time in new research. picked by AutumnLotus 1 year ago

An explosion near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 41st Street near Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal sent plumes of smoke or steam into the air, injured six people and forced building evacuations. picked by DrNothing 2 years ago