Astronomers have uncovered a new extreme in the universe's catalog of violent phenomena — a class of cosmic explosions so powerful that they rank among the most energetic events since the Big Bang.
These rare, ultra-luminous events were observed in the centers of three distant galaxies, where supermassive black holes lit up as they tore apart massive stars that strayed too close. Unlike typical stellar explosions, which brighten and fade within weeks after dramatic bursts of energy, these cosmic beacons took months to reach peak brightness and remained visible for years. Scientists have now classified these events as extreme nuclear transients (ENTs).
