The GRB, called the Brightest Of All Time (or BOAT) may be powered by its strange jet structure, scientists say.

Last October, astronomers witnessed a fleeting, extraordinarily bright gamma ray burst in the distant universe. Since dubbed the BOAT—the Brightest of All Time—a team of scientists has now reported an unusual structure to the gamma ray burst’s jet.

The gamma-ray burst was 70 times brighter than its previous record holder Back in October 2022, scientists detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB), called GRB 221009A, which was quickly dubbed as the brightest of all time (BOAT).

In October 2022, a gamma-ray burst (GRB), called GRB 221009A, was detected and it was so bright that astronomers quickly dubbed it the BOAT – the brightest of all time - with follow-up studies showing that it was 70 times brighter and far more energetic than the previous record holder.

When scientists detected the gamma-ray burst known as GRB 221009A on October 9, 2022, they dubbed it the BOAT, or the brightest-of-all-time. Now, months after its initial burst, scientists studying GRB 221009A describe an unusual structure to the jet of material expelled during the explosion that may explain GRB 221009A’s extreme nature and why its afterglow remained visible for so long after the event.

The brightest gamma-ray burst ever seen may have been powered by a unique jet structure, scientists say. The discovery could shed new light on the origins of the universe.