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English: Drawing of a massive star collapsing to form a black hole. Energy released as jets along the axis of rotation forms a gamma ray burst that lasts from a few milliseconds to minutes. Such an event within several thousand light years of Earth could disrupt the biosphere by wiping out half of the ozone layer, creating nitrogen dioxide and potentially cause a mass extinction. Stars shine by burning hydrogen. The process is called nuclear fusion. Hydrogen burning produces helium "ash." As the star runs out of hydrogen (and nears the end of its life), it begins burning helium. The ashes of helium burning, such as carbon and oxygen, also get burned. The end result of this fusion is iron. Iron cannot be used for nuclear fuel. Without fuel, the star no longer has the energy to support its weight. The core collapses. If the star is massive enough, the core will collapse into a black hole. The black hole quickly forms jets; and shock waves reverberating through the star ultimately blow apart the outer shells. Gamma-ray bursts are the beacons of star death and black hole birth.
Date
Source National Science Foundation Press Release 05-156: Gamma-Ray Burst Smashes a Record
Author Nicolle Rager Fuller of the NSF
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© The copyright holder of this file, National Science Foundation, allows anyone to use it for any purpose, provided that the copyright holder is properly attributed. Redistribution, derivative work, commercial use, and all other use is permitted.
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National Science Foundation

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12 September 2005

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current13:46, 17 September 2007Thumbnail for version as of 13:46, 17 September 20072,000 × 1,396 (1.23 MB)JehochmanThis image was created by the National Science Foundation and is in the public domain. Credit: Nicolle Rager Fuller/NSF http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_images.jsp?cntn_id=104440&org=NSF

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