Einstein Probe Detects Mysterious X-ray Flare with Record-Long Emission

An international team of astronomers has detected a peculiar fast-evolving X-ray transient, EP241021a, using China’s Einstein Probe. Unveiled in a May 12 arXiv paper, this transient stood out due to its long-lasting emissions lasting over 79 days—unprecedented among FEXTs. EP241021a also produced optical and radio emissions, suggesting a multi-component structure. Scientists believe the source may be a magnetar engine or a jetted tidal disruption event (TDE), although neither theory fully explains the observation. This groundbreaking discovery could transform our understanding of rare, energetic cosmic explosions