You may be able to help NASA trace the origins of the most powerful explosions in the universe.
Although astronomers have detected gamma ray bursts since the 1960s, they need to know more about their structure to determine their origins, and that’s where you come in. NASA is calling on citizen-scientists to become “burst chasers” by joining a program aimed at identifying gamma ray bursts’ signatures.
NASA telescopes regularly identify the far-off explosions, which release massive amounts of energy. Astronomers believe the bursts of gamma rays are probably produced by the collapse of massive stars or the merging of multiple neutron stars.
Detectable throughout the universe, these bursts provide insight into what’s happening in extreme environments that cannot be replicated on Earth. They also may reveal how the universe formed and evolved.
Because of the massive size of the universe and the fixed speed of light, the gamma ray bursts we see today actually occurred billions of years ago, closer to the beginning of the universe. As a result, scientists view them as time capsules that may contain useful information about the conditions that created today’s galaxies and stars.
NASA’s Burst Chaser initiative seeks volunteers to examine plots that show energy captured by the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory, a gamma ray-detecting telescope that has been in low Earth orbit since 2004.
Citizen-scientists will help researchers classify the pulses and shapes, creating the first catalogue of gamma ray pulse structures and contributing to future research on the huge explosions.
“We need your help to classify these pulses for more clues of what they really are!” the project’s principal investigator Amy Lien, an assistant professor of physics at the University of Tampa who specializes in gamma ray bursts, said in a news release.
Daisy Hips is a science communicator who brings the wonders of the natural world to readers. Her articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to environmental conservation. Daisy is also an advocate for science education and enjoys stargazing in her spare time.
