Mysterious 10-minute X-ray burst from a distant galaxy may have come from 2 dead stars colliding
Astronomers have identified a 10-minute X-ray burst from a distant galaxy that may have been caused by the collision of two neutron stars. This event, designated EP250704a, is the longest-lasting prompt X-ray flash ever recorded from such a merger.
Why it matters
Understanding neutron star collisions provides critical insights into the formation of heavy elements and the extreme physical forces governing the universe.
Stars Mysterious 10-minute X-ray burst from a distant galaxy may have come from 2 dead stars colliding News By Robert Lea Published 9 October 2026 "When I saw the X-ray data from this new event, I realized something was up."
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Click for next article An illustration of merging neutron stars launching high-energy X-rays (Image credit: Robert Lea (created with Canva)) Copy link Facebook X Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Astronomers investigating mysterious flashes of X-rays believe that these blasts could stem from collisions between neutron stars, the events that forge elements like gold, silver, and platinum.
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