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How do gamma ray bursts compare to other cosmic phenomena, such as supernovae?

Britni Kemwall

Gamma ray bursts are a very special phenomenon that we can see in our universe! They are different from other things we can see, like supernovae.

A supernova is when a star explodes and creates a really bright light. This can happen when the star is too old and can't hold itself up anymore, so it explodes. The supernova can shine for weeks or months and can be seen from very far away.

Gamma ray bursts, on the other hand, are even more special! They happen when something very different happens in our universe. We think they happen when a very big star collapses or when two stars smash into each other. This creates a big explosion of energy that sends out a lot of gamma rays. Gamma rays are a kind of light that is very energetic and can be seen by special telescopes.

Gamma ray bursts are very powerful and can be seen from far away, even in other galaxies! They only last for a short time, sometimes just a few seconds or minutes. This makes them very tricky to study because we have to be looking at the right place at the right time to see them.

So, while supernovae are bright and long-lasting explosions from stars, gamma ray bursts are even more powerful and only last a short time. Both of these events help us to understand the universe and the things that happen in it.