What’s the biggest explosion in the universe?

image via New Scientist

January 23, 2026, 11:45 AM

• •Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are the smallest explosions on the list, but can still cause problems for Earth.
• •Novae occur when white dwarfs explode, releasing substantial energy.
• •Supernovae, the explosions of massive stars, can outshine entire galaxies.
• •Magnetars and gamma-ray bursts are incredibly energetic events that can affect Earth.
• •The collision of supermassive black holes is the most powerful event in the universe, releasing unfathomable amounts of energy.

The universe is filled with powerful explosions, ranging from solar flares to supermassive black hole collisions, that pose varying degrees of threat to Earth. Solar storms and novae are relatively small, but still significant events. Supernovae and magnetar starquakes release massive amounts of energy. The most powerful events, like gamma-ray bursts and black hole mergers, can release energy beyond human comprehension, though they are often too far away to cause direct harm.

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