Unprecedented Gamma-Ray Burst Challenges Existing Astrophysical Models
Astronomers are investigating GRB 250702B, a gamma-ray burst lasting seven hours, proposing a novel theory involving a black hole consuming a star from within.
On July 2, 2025, NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected GRB 250702B, an extraordinary gamma-ray burst (GRB) that lasted approximately seven hours—significantly longer than typical GRBs, which usually last from milliseconds to minutes. The event also exhibited repeated bursts, a phenomenon not previously observed in such cosmic explosions.
Subsequent observations by instruments including the Einstein Probe and the Very Large Telescope confirmed that the source originated from a distant galaxy, ruling out proximity as a factor in its intensity. The unprecedented duration and repetitive nature of GRB 250702B have led scientists to explore new theoretical models to explain its origin.
One leading hypothesis suggests that a black hole was engulfed by an expanding star, leading to the black hole consuming the star from the inside out. This process could produce the prolonged and energetic emissions observed. Daniel Perley, an astrophysicist at Liverpool John Moores University, noted that this model accounts for the extended timescale of the burst.
The research team continues to monitor the event's aftermath to determine its exact location and total energy output, steps essential to unraveling the mystery behind this record-shattering cosmic phenomenon.