A supermassive black hole has reportedly unleashed a record-setting flare, an explosive event believed to be the result of its violent consumption of a star at least 30 times more massive than the sun.

A striking cosmic event, designated J2245+3743, is currently undergoing scrutiny for classification as a tidal disruption event (TDE). Such dramatic occurrences unfold when a star or similar celestial body strays too close to a black hole’s powerful gravitational pull, leading to its violent destruction and consumption. Should J2245+3743 be verified as a TDE, it would set a new record as the most powerful and distant energy flare ever detected emanating from a supermassive black hole.

Astronomer K. E. Saavik Ford has revealed the astonishing power of a recent solar flare, stating it has been unleashing an extraordinary amount of energy since observations began. According to Ford, the energy output from the flare is equivalent to the total energy that would be generated if the entire mass of our sun were converted into pure energy, a calculation based on Albert Einstein’s iconic E=mc² formula. Ford is an astronomer affiliated with the City University of New York (CUNY), the Borough of Manhattan Community College, and the American Museum of Natural History, and is a member of the research team studying the phenomenon.