Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Space
Space
Science
Robert Lea

This 7-hour cosmic explosion is the longest gamma-ray burst ever seen. Could it be from an elusive class of black hole?

Black Hole Gemini NSF NOIRLab
An illustration of GRB 250702B and the dusty galaxy from which it erupted.

Astronomers have spotted the longest gamma-ray burst ever seen, a cosmic explosion that lasted seven hours — and they determined it could be the work of a black hole destroying a star.

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are considered to be the most powerful cosmic explosions since the Big Bang, but when GRB 250702B was first detected on July 2, 2025 by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, it quickly stood out among the around 15,000 GRBs detected thus far. The blast could be the result of an elusive intermediate-mass black hole devouring a star.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Kim Kardashian Reveals Five Nannies for Four Kids as Kanye West and Bianca Censori Step Out in Los Angeles
Kanye West and Bianca Censori were seen with Playboi Carti at ComplexCon in Los Angeles, shortly after Kim Kardashian discussed raising their four children and using five nannies.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Woman says a male canvasser knocked at her door and wanted to talk pro-life. Then she asked him: ‘Have you ever been pregnant?’
She explained why she is pro-choice.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Doing Everything Right but Still Have Dull Skin? Here’s Why
If this sounds familiar, it doesn't necessarily mean your skincare routine is bad. Healthy-looking skin depends on much more than the products sitting on your bathroom shelf. Dead skin-cell buildup, dehydration, sun exposure, irritation, lifestyle factors and even using too many active ingredients can all affect how your skin looks.…
MyLifeXP
MyLifeXP
'Didn't Care To Wait': Rihanna Replies 'Damn' After EJ Johnson Criticises Her Fashion Week Delay
EJ Johnson claimed Rihanna's late arrival delayed Dior's Paris Fashion Week show by an hour. Rihanna later commented on a video showing Johnson apparently blocked from a Paris hotel
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Taylor Swift Reveals Dakota Johnson's Hilarious 'Therapist' Routine in SNL Dating Joke
Taylor Swift jokes about Dakota Johnson's fictional 'therapist' routine during the actress's SNL monologue
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
'Coming to a Prison Near You': 50 Cent Trolls Diddy Over Reports He Watched His Netflix Doc in Jail
Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson has mocked Sean 'Diddy' Combs after former inmates said he allegedly watched Jackson's Netflix documentary on a modified prison tablet.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play