In a major leap for space science, astronomers at the University of Hawai‘i have uncovered a new type of cosmic explosion that could be the most powerful ever seen since the Big Bang. These events, called “Extreme Nuclear Transients” or ENTs, were spotted lighting up the universe with energy beyond anything observed before.
So, what exactly are ENTs? They occur when a gigantic star—at least three times the size of our Sun—gets too close to a supermassive black hole sitting at the center of a galaxy. The black hole’s gravity is so intense that it rips the star apart in a violent, dazzling display of cosmic destruction.
What follows is mind-blowing: the explosion releases energy equivalent to 100 Suns over their entire lifetimes, making these events visible even from galaxies billions of light-years away. Scientists say ENTs are up to 10 times brighter than any previously known stellar explosion, including the largest supernovae.
“We’ve seen stars being torn apart before, but ENTs are a different kind of monster,” said lead researcher Jason Hinkle, who made this discovery while completing his PhD. “They shine brighter and last longer—sometimes for years.”
One particular ENT, named Gaia18cdj, emitted 25 times more energy than the most powerful supernova ever observed. That’s like watching 100 suns burn their entire energy supply in just a single year.
The discovery was made while scanning public sky surveys for unusual flashes of light from galaxy centers. Using data from the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission, Hinkle found two bright and long-lasting flares that didn’t behave like anything seen before.
“Gaia tells us when something changes in brightness,” Hinkle explained. “But when I saw these smooth, long-lasting flares coming from galactic centers, I knew something very strange and exciting was happening.”
The findings were published in the journal Science Advances, and they’re already shaking up what we know about the extreme events that occur around black holes. For astronomers, ENTs open a new window into the energetic, sometimes violent, relationships between stars and the black holes that lurk at the heart of galaxies.