PHRSERS AND DEATH STARS 51
ation from space. Initially this discovery set off a panic in the Pentagon:
were the Soviets testing a new nuclear weapon in outer space? Later it
was determined that these bursts of radiation were coming uniformly
from all directions of the sky, meaning that they were actually coming
from outside the Milky Way galaxy. But if they were extragalactic, they
must be releasing truly astronomical amounts of power, enough to
light up the entire visible universe.
When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1990, a huge body of astronomical data was suddenly declassified by the Pentagon, overwhelming
astronomers. Suddenly astronomers realized that a new, mysterious
phenomenon was staring them in the face, one that would require rewriting the science textbooks.
Since gamma ray bursters last from only a few seconds to a few
minutes before they disappear, an elaborate system of sensors is required to spot and analyze them. First, satellites detect the initial burst
of radiation and send the exact coordinates of the burster back to
Earth. These coordinates are then relayed to optical or radio telescopes, which zero in on the exact location of the gamma ray burster.
Although many details must still be clarified, one theory about the
origins of gamma ray bursters is that they are "hypernovae" of enormous strength, which leave massive black holes in their wake. It appears as if gamma ray bursters are monster black holes in formation.
But black holes emit two "jets" of radiation, one from the north
pole and one from the south pole, like a spinning top. The radiation
seen from a distant gamma ray burster is apparently one of the jets
that is aligned toward the Earth. If the jet of a gamma ray burster were
aimed at the Earth, and the gamma ray burster were in our galactic
neighborhood (a few hundred light-years from Earth), its power would
be enough to destroy all life on our planet.
Initially the gamma ray burster's X-ray pulse would create an electromagnetic pulse that would wipe out all electronics equipment on
the Earth. Its intense beam of X-rays and gamma rays would be
enough to damage the atmosphere of the Earth, destroying our protective ozone layer. The jet of the gamma ray burster would then heat up
temperatures on the surface of the Earth, eventually setting off mon-
ation from space. Initially this discovery set off a panic in the Pentagon:
were the Soviets testing a new nuclear weapon in outer space? Later it
was determined that these bursts of radiation were coming uniformly
from all directions of the sky, meaning that they were actually coming
from outside the Milky Way galaxy. But if they were extragalactic, they
must be releasing truly astronomical amounts of power, enough to
light up the entire visible universe.
When the Soviet Union broke apart in 1990, a huge body of astronomical data was suddenly declassified by the Pentagon, overwhelming
astronomers. Suddenly astronomers realized that a new, mysterious
phenomenon was staring them in the face, one that would require rewriting the science textbooks.
Since gamma ray bursters last from only a few seconds to a few
minutes before they disappear, an elaborate system of sensors is required to spot and analyze them. First, satellites detect the initial burst
of radiation and send the exact coordinates of the burster back to
Earth. These coordinates are then relayed to optical or radio telescopes, which zero in on the exact location of the gamma ray burster.
Although many details must still be clarified, one theory about the
origins of gamma ray bursters is that they are "hypernovae" of enormous strength, which leave massive black holes in their wake. It appears as if gamma ray bursters are monster black holes in formation.
But black holes emit two "jets" of radiation, one from the north
pole and one from the south pole, like a spinning top. The radiation
seen from a distant gamma ray burster is apparently one of the jets
that is aligned toward the Earth. If the jet of a gamma ray burster were
aimed at the Earth, and the gamma ray burster were in our galactic
neighborhood (a few hundred light-years from Earth), its power would
be enough to destroy all life on our planet.
Initially the gamma ray burster's X-ray pulse would create an electromagnetic pulse that would wipe out all electronics equipment on
the Earth. Its intense beam of X-rays and gamma rays would be
enough to damage the atmosphere of the Earth, destroying our protective ozone layer. The jet of the gamma ray burster would then heat up
temperatures on the surface of the Earth, eventually setting off mon-