This blog post discusses a recent study published in Nature Astronomy that confirmed a powerful gamma-ray burst (GRB) came from a supernova. The GRB, known as the Brightest Of All Time (BOAT), was observed in October 2022 and was found to be unusually bright and energetic. The study’s findings suggest that the BOAT did not produce heavy elements like platinum and gold, which is puzzling because one would expect such elements to be present in a supernova of this magnitude. The authors of the study propose that the narrow jet of the GRB may have been responsible for the lack of heavy elements, as it was much more focused than other GRB jets. The study’s findings also suggest that there must be another source of heavy elements in the universe, beyond binary neutron star mergers. The researchers used data from the Webb Space Telescope and ALMA to separate light from the supernova and the GRB afterglow, and found telltale signatures of key elements like calcium and oxygen. The study’s results provide new insights into the origins of heavy elements in the universe, and highlight the importance of continued research in this area.