A Mysterious Cosmic Explosion May Have Been Detected

A mysterious cosmic explosion has left astronomers baffled, presenting either an incredibly rare cosmic alignment or an entirely new phenomenon.

The event, labeled EP240408a, was first detected on April 8, 2024, by the Einstein Probe, an X-ray space telescope. Initially, it resembled a typical gamma-ray burst, known for its bright X-ray emissions. However, follow-up observations across multiple wavelengths—ultraviolet, optical, near-infrared, radio, X-ray, and gamma-ray—revealed that it didn’t fit neatly into any known category.

According to a new study, the leading theory suggests a white dwarf being torn apart by an intermediate-mass black hole. This violent interaction likely produced a high-speed jet of material that, by sheer chance, is pointed directly at Earth.

A Cosmic Mystery: Could EP240408a Be a New Class of Explosion?

“EP240408a fits parts of several known phenomena but fully matches none,” says Brendan O’Connor, an astronomer at Carnegie Mellon University. “Its short duration and extreme brightness challenge current explanations—perhaps it’s something entirely new.”

Astronomers classify cosmic explosions by their duration, frequency, and light signatures. EP240408a, detected by multiple telescopes, flared in soft X-rays for 10 seconds, glowed for four days, then faded—too long for a gamma-ray burst yet too brief for other known events.

Adding to the puzzle, its X-ray brightness fell into an odd range, and no radio emissions were detected 11, 158, or 258 days later—an unusual silence for such an event.

After ruling out quasars and fast blue optical transients, researchers suggest a tidal disruption event (TDE), where a black hole devours a star, possibly producing a jet aimed at Earth. However, jetted TDEs usually emit radio waves, which remain absent.

If future observations detect radio waves, EP240408a may be a jetted TDE. If not, it could be a rare gamma-ray burst—or an entirely new cosmic phenomenon.

Read Original Article: Science Alert

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