You may be able to help NASA trace the origin of the most powerful explosion in the universe.
Astronomers have been detecting gamma-ray bursts since the 1960s, but to determine their origin, we need to know more about their structure, and that’s where you come in. NASA is calling on citizen scientists to join scientific research organizations and become “burst trackers.” program The purpose is to identify traces of gamma-ray bursts.
NASA telescopes regularly see distant explosions that release large amounts of energy. Astronomers believe that gamma-ray bursts are likely caused by the collapse of a massive star or the merger of multiple neutron stars.
These bursts, detectable throughout the universe, provide insight into what’s happening in extreme environments that can’t be replicated on Earth. It may also shed light on how the universe was formed and evolved.
Because the universe is huge and the speed of light is constant, the gamma-ray bursts we see today actually occurred billions of years ago, close to the beginning of the universe. As a result, scientists consider them time capsules that may contain useful information about the conditions under which today’s galaxies and stars formed.
NASA’s Burst Chaser Initiative is recruiting volunteers to study plots showing the energy captured by burst chasers. Neil Gehrels Swift Observatorya gamma-ray detection telescope in low Earth orbit since 2004.
Citizen scientists will help researchers classify pulses and shapes, create the first catalog of gamma-ray pulse structures, and contribute to future research on giant explosions.
“We need your help in classifying these pulses to learn more about what they actually are!” Principal investigator on the project and assistant professor of physics at the University of Tampa who specializes in gamma-ray bursts Amy Liang told the news. release.