Asger Risom
A newly identified class of cosmic events, known as extreme nuclear transients (ENTs), release more energy than any known stellar explosion—up to 25 times more than a supernova.
At the outer edges of known science, where gravity tears stars apart and time bends under mass, astronomers have uncovered something unprecedented.
These rare celestial events, dubbed ENTs, are the most powerful explosions the universe has seen since the Big Bang itself.
A Star’s Violent End Near a Black Hole
As reported by Popular Science, ENTs occur when a massive star—at least three times the size of our sun—drifts too close to a supermassive black hole. Unlike the relatively familiar tidal disruption events (TDEs), ENTs result in the complete destruction of the star, unleashing plumes of energy that shine for years across the cosmos.
“Not only are ENTs far brighter than normal tidal disruption events, but they remain luminous for years,”
said Jason Hinkle, the University of Hawai’i astronomer who led the study.
Hinkle and his team first spotted the phenomenon through mysterious flares detected by the European Space Agency’s Gaia mission. These flares were unusually smooth and long-lasting, radiating from the centers of distant galaxies.
With support from observatories worldwide, the team eventually confirmed three separate ENTs—including the standout event Gaia18cdj.
Cosmic Fireworks with Historic Implications
The energy output of Gaia18cdj defies imagination. Over a single year, it released 100 times the energy our sun emits over its entire 10-billion-year lifespan. While a typical supernova is powerful enough to briefly outshine an entire galaxy, ENTs leave even those titanic blasts in the dust.
But these aren’t just fireworks for astronomers to marvel at. Researchers believe ENTs may play a crucial role in the growth of the largest black holes in the universe and could help map the structure of the early cosmos.
Because they’re so bright, we can see them across vast cosmic distances—and in astronomy, looking far away means looking back in time.
said study co-author Benjamin Shappee.
The challenge, however, lies in their rarity. ENTs are estimated to be at least 10 million times less common than standard supernovae, making them both awe-inspiring and elusive. For now, scientists are calling for sustained global efforts to monitor deep space—hoping to catch more of these cosmic titans in action.