A hole is born . . .

GAMMA-RAY bursters are among the most powerful explosions in the Universe. In
less than a second they emit as much energy as a supernova releases—and
all of it is in the gamma-ray part of the spectrum. Theorists have come up with
scores of proposals, including some quite outlandish ones, to explain how energy
is released at such a phenomenal rate, but now a team of astronomers is
speculating that it could be the result of a relatively simple act of creation.
“We may actually be witnessing the birth cry of a black hole,” says Roy Maartens
of the University…