A Huge Gamma-Ray Burst Hit Earth So We May All Be Hulks Now

Melissa T. Miller
·2 min read
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More and more Hulks are showing up in the MCU and now everyone on Earth may get their own gamma-radiation superpowers. According to a news release from NASA, the largest gamma-ray burst ever detected hit Earth on October 9, 2022. Now called GRB 221009A, astronomers think it came from the formation of a new black hole two billion light years away. That also makes it the closest event ever detected. But it doesn’t pose a threat to life on Earth. Still, if you notice any new tendency to turn green or Hulk out, you may want to have that checked.

Graphic of jets from a newly formed black hole that bring X-rays and gamma rays
NASA/Swift/Cruz deWilde

So while a gamma-ray burst could burn off Earth’s atmosphere and kill us all, obviously that didn’t happen in this case. But scientists do believe it’s happened at least once before in Earth’s history. And it could happen again, but the burst would have to originate within thousands of light years of Earth. We first saw news of the gamma-ray burst on Salon.

Image from the Swift X-ray telescope of the gamma-ray burst
NASA/Swift/A. Beardmore (University of Leicester)

Previously recorded bursts have usually only lasted a few seconds. Even then, they’re capable of putting off as much energy as our Sun will in its entire 10-billion-year lifetime. How that compares to the dose Bruce Banner got in that gamma radiation lab accident has yet to be calculated. Though, in the MCU at least, it’s also possible to end up with Hulk powers via exposure to Banner’s blood. Just ask the Abomination or She-Hulk.

She-Hulk and the Hulk from the MCU Marvel Disney+ series for critics first reactions article
Marvel Studios

Multiple telescopes on Earth and in orbit picked up the sensational gamma-ray burst just as a conference of gamma-ray experts kicked off in South Africa. It started the meeting with a bang, to say the least.

Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.