Speaker: AMY LIEN, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Physics, University of Tampa

Gamma-ray bursts are one of the most powerful explosions in the universe. These bursts are likely related to supernovae, neutron stars, or black holes. When a gamma-ray burst occurs, it can release more energy within 10 s than the entire 10 billion year lifetime of our sun, which makes them one of the furthest astrophysical objects that can be detected directly by telescopes. However, the exact physical mechanism that creates these extraordinary bursts remains unresolved. In this talk, Dr. Lien will discuss our journey exploring the mysterious origins of gamma-ray bursts with space telescopes, and our recent project that invites all astronomy lovers to help us solve the puzzle.