What’s powering these mysterious, bright blue cosmic flashes? Astronomers find a clue.

December 18, 2025
Scientists have found over a dozen luminous blue outbursts — including one called the Cow — that were thought to be unusual supernovae. A new outburst, the brightest yet, suggests otherwise. Read more here: https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/12/16/whats-powering-these-mysterious-bri...

These new findings have been published in two papers recently accepted by The Astrophysical Journal Letters. UC Berkeley postdoctoral fellow Nayana A.J. is first author of an analysis of X-ray and radio emissions from AT 2024wpp, while Berkeley graduate student Natalie LeBaron is first author of an analysis of the optical, ultraviolet and near infrared emissions. Raffaella Margutti is the senior author of both papers. 
Natalie LeBaron: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2509.00951

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