Astronomers believe they might have found the source of the brightest explosion ever in space. The record-breaking explosion recorded in October 2022 was the most powerful ever seen, leaving equipment and instruments struggling to measure it as it pointed directly at planet Earth. The bright gamma-ray burst is officially called GRB 221009A and when it first went off, scientists were left scrabbling to point telescopes in its direction to record it. The explosion has affectionately been nicknamed BOAT, standing for “brightest of all time”, and was caused by the death of a large star located 2.4 billion light-years away – relatively close in terms of space activity. The star collapsed into a black hole after ejecting its outer envelope, causing this huge, bright explosion comprised of gamma rays, producing not only a narrow structured jet but with an additional outflow of gas. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter This “exceptionally rare event” surprised astronomers, who had not predicted the existence of gas, and certainly provides plenty of new information around the question of how black holes form. The study’s lead author and astronomer from George Washington University, Brendan O'Connor, explained: “GRB 221009A represents a massive step forward in our understanding of gamma-ray bursts, and demonstrates that the most extreme explosions do not obey the standard physics assumed for garden variety gamma-ray bursts.” He continued: “GRB 221009A might be the equivalent Rosetta stone of long GRBs, forcing us to revise our standard theories of how relativistic outflows are formed in collapsing massive stars.” The huge and long-lasting blast measured up to 18 teraelectronvolts which is a staggering record for a gamma-ray burst, leaving scientists to hypothesise that it was a supernova. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

NEW YORK The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday sued Virtu Financial, accusing the large market maker

HSBC Holdings Plc has added its name to the list of banks looking to expand into a fast-growing

Prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary have filed a class-action lawsuit over conditions at the prison's farm

YouTube prankster Max Fosh became an instant viral hit on Saturday when he used an Uno reversal card after receiving a booking during the Sidemen charity match. Fosh, who did score a very good goal in the sold out game at West Ham's London Stadium between Sidemen FC and the YouTube All-Stars, saw yellow on 78 minutes for a brash challenge on Simon 'Miniminter' Minter. After former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg showed Fosh the yellow card the prepared YouTuber turned the tables on the official and showed the official a green Uno reverse card, which effectively switched the decision. Does this mean that Clattenburg is the first referee to ever receive a yellow card? Regardless of whether the Uno card actually stood or not Fosh's well-timed moment soon went viral with many on X/Twitter applauding the joke. Fosh also posted the moment telling Clattenburg to "respect the meme." The match itself ended 8-5 to the Sidemen and drew 60,000 fans to the London Stadium and raised more than £2 million for charity. The stream of the match also smashed YouTube records. According to MrBeast, who played in the match, at one point had 2,700,000 concurrent viewers making it the most viewed live sporting event in YouTube history, as per Dexterto. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

The Justice Department has closed its investigation into the possible mishandling of classified documents found at former Vice President Mike Pence's home and will not bring any charges, according to a letter from the DOJ obtained by CNN.

Saudi Arabia has made its ambitious intentions in world soccer even clearer by announcing a “privatization project” for companies to spend more on clubs, as it continues a push to sign some of the world's top players

Centenarians have become the fastest-growing demographic group in the world, with numbers approximately doubling every 10 years since the 1970s. Many researchers have sought out the factors and contributors that determine a long and healthy life. The dissolution isn't new either, with Plato and Aristotle writing about the ageing process over 2,300 years ago. Understanding what is behind living a longer life involves unravelling the complex interplay of genetic predisposition and lifestyle factors and how they interact. In a recent study published in GeroScience, researches have unveiled common biomarkers, including levels of cholesterol and glucose, in people who live past 90. The study is one of the largest that has been conducted in this area, comparing biomarker profiles measured throughout life among those who lived to be over the age of 100 and their shorter-lived peers. Data came from 44,000 Swedes who underwent health assessments at ages 64-99. These participants were then followed through Swedish register data for up to 35 years. Of these people, 2.7 percent (1,224) lived to be 100 years old. 85 percent of these centenarians were female. The study's findings conduced that lower levels of glucose, creatinine - which is linked to kidney function and uric acid, a waste product in the body caused by the digestion of certain foods - were linked to those who made it to their 100th birthday. The findings suggest a potential link between metabolic health, nutrition, and exceptional longevity. In terms of lifestyle factors, the study didn't allow for any conclusions to be made, but the authors of the study added that it's reasonable for factors such as nutrition and alcohol intake play a role. Overall, the fact that differences in biomarkers could be observed a long time before death suggests that genes and lifestyle play a role, but of course, chance likely has an input too. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

This week in Belfast there'll be a big sales pitch to international firms - what could it achieve?

The Chicago White Sox are in free fall, while the Atlanta Braves need pitching help. A Lucas Giolito trade makes a lot of sense.As much as fans on Chicago's south side would prefer otherwise, the White Sox are clear sellers this season. The young Sox core of just a few years ago is set to h...

Nearly four years after Lori Vallow killed her two children, the “doomsday cult” mom is expected to be sentenced to spend the rest of her life behind bars. Following much delay caused by the Covid pandemic and procedural hurdles, Fremont County District Judge Steven Boyce is expected to hand down 50-year-old Vallow’s sentence at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Monday. Vallow was found guilty in May of killing her seven-year-old son Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan sometime in late 2019 and taking their security benefits. She was also convicted of conspiring to kill her husband Chad Daybell’s first wife Tammy that year. The children’s bodies were found in June 2020 at a pet cemetery in Mr Daybell’s residence. Tylee’s remains were discovered burned, while JJ was strangled to death and found still in his pyjamas and with a plastic bag over his head and duct tape over his mouth. Vallow’s sentencing may mark the end of her legal saga in Idaho but her husband will be tried later this year on the same charges that she was convicted of — Vallow is also facing charges of conspiring to kill in the death of her fourth husband Charles Vallow in Arizona. Evidence introduced during the six-week trial included bizarre testimony from family members that she called her son and daughter zombies and said she was a goddess sent to usher in the Biblical apocalypse. Vallow and Mr Daybell apparently believed in an ability to use their minds to cast out demons from people and “work on them”. The convicted child killer is expected to be sentenced to life in prison. However, Mr Daybell is facing the death penalty in the case. Vallow has been held at Madison County Jail ahead of sentencing but will be transferred to the custody of the Idaho Department of Correction and then expected to be relocated to the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Center, according to KTVB. Mr Daybell and Vallow were slated to stand trial together before Judge Boyce ruled in March that the cases would be severed. Four family members are expected to give victim impact statements at Vallow’s sentencing, according to previously submitted requests to the court following Idaho law. Vallow’s only surviving son 27-year-old Colby Ryan and her sister Summer Shiflet are expected to deliver their statements. JJ’s grandmother Kay Woodcock and Tammy Daybell’s aunt Vicki Hoban are also expected to address the court during sentencing. Vallow’s defence attorneys will also have an opportunity to speak on her behalf. Once Vallow is sentenced, Arizona prosecutors are expected to submit requests for extradition. In Maricopa County, she has been charged with conspiracy to kill her fourth husband Charles Vallow, who was shot dead by Vallow’s brother Alex Cox, on July 11 2019. JJ and Tylee then vanished without a trace back in September 2019, with their mother refusing to reveal their whereabouts to authorities for many months. One month after the children were last seen alive, Tammy – Mr Daybell’s wife and an otherwise healthy 49-year-old – died suddenly and Vallow and Mr Daybell soon jetted off to Hawaii to get married on the beach. In June 2020, the remains of JJ and Tylee were found buried on the grounds of Mr Daybell’s property in Rexburg, Idaho, and the doomsday cult couple were eventually charged with murder. Prosecutors argued that Vallow and Mr Daybell conspired with Cox to murder Tammy, JJ and Tylee as part of their bizarre cult beliefs – but also for financial purposes so that they could collect Tammy’s life insurance money and the children’s social security and survivor benefits. Read More American mother-of-three arrested in Bahamas over alleged plot to kill ex-football star husband Sanctuary for Pablo Escobar’s family in UK was part of secret deal Breakthrough in Long Island serial killings shines light on the many unsolved murders of sex workers

India has won the toss and has elected to bat first in an Asia Cup showdown against Pakistan