Exploring Gamma Ray Bursts

In 1963, superpowers signed a test ban treaty to limit the arms race. To ensure compliance, the U.S. developed VILA satellites equipped with sensors to detect nuclear detonations. These satellites unexpectedly detected gamma ray bursts from deep space, leading researchers to investigate their origins. Gamma rays, previously associated with nuclear events, were found to come from distant cosmic sources, releasing immense energy. This discovery prompted the launch of the Swift satellite in 2004 to study these bursts further. Swift recently detected a gamma ray burst from 13 billion light years away, marking it as the most distant known feature in the universe.

What was the primary purpose of the VILA satellites developed by America?

• To monitor weather patterns

• To communicate with other satellites

• To detect nuclear detonations

• To explore the moon

What unexpected discovery did the VILA satellites make?

• Signals from alien life

• Changes in Earth's magnetic field

• Gamma rays from deep space

• New planets in our solar system

What was initially thought to be the source of the gamma ray bursts detected by the satellites?

• Comet impacts

• Supernova explosions

• Black holes

• Collapsing stars

What was the main challenge in observing gamma ray bursts?

• They are too close to Earth

• They are rare and brief

• They occur too frequently

• They are too bright

What significant achievement did the Swift satellite accomplish?

• Communicating with extraterrestrial life

• Mapping the entire Milky Way galaxy

• Detecting a gamma ray burst from 13 billion light years away

• Predicting solar flares