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Astronomers Detect Magnetic Fingerprint of a Cosmic Explosion for the First Time

Astronomers Detect Magnetic Fingerprint of a Cosmic Explosion for the First Time

Using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) radio telescope, which is operated by the U. S. National Science Foundation National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NSF NRAO), the team detected polarized light from a gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglow for the first time at radio wavelengths.

Astronomers Catch Black Holes “Burping” in Radio with the NSF VLA

Astronomers Catch Black Holes “Burping” in Radio with the NSF VLA

Astronomers using the U.S. National Science Foundation Very Large Array (NSF VLA) have found that when a supermassive black hole tears apart an unlucky star, the fireworks are not over when the first flash fades. Years after the initial outburst, many of these black holes “burp” out streams of material that slam into surrounding gas and glow in radio waves.