Giant flare sweeps through solar system after powerful explosion, scientists say

The source of a huge flare that swept through our solar system has been pinpointed by scientists.

The discovery could help the understanding of gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions in the universe.

Earth is hit by mild and short gamma-ray bursts regularly, on most days. But more rarely there are vast explosions, like the newly examined GRB 200415A, which bring with them a lashing of energy more powerful than our own Sun.

The flare seems to have emerged from an unusual, powerful neutron star known as a magnetar, scientists report in new findings published in Nature Astronomy.