2022's brightest gamma-ray burst (GRB 221009A) observed, confirmed as a massive star collapse, yet lacks heavy elements typically found in supernovae.

In October 2022, scientists observed the brightest gamma-ray burst (GRB) ever recorded, GRB 221009A. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, Northwestern University researchers confirmed that GRB 221009A resulted from the collapse of a massive star, producing a supernova explosion. However, the absence of heavy elements like gold and platinum in the aftermath of the supernova raises new questions about the origin of these elements in the universe.