Distant clue to gamma-ray bursts Far-off galaxy seen at origin of mysterious radiation flash

Astronomers are reporting today a breakthrough in solving a major celestial mystery -- the nature of the prodigious outpourings of radiation called gamma-ray bursts, perhaps the brightest objects in the universe.

The bursts, discovered in 1973, have remained an enigma, with hundreds of different theories proposed to explain the sudden, unpredictable flashes of high-energy radiation. The bursts can occur anywhere in the sky, and usually last a minute or less. They are detected about once a day on average, using specialized satellites.

Now, for the first time, a team of…