ABSTRACT

Gamma-Ray Bursts---A Mystery Solved?

ABSTRACT: Since their discovery in 1967, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) have remained a deep mystery. Identification of their X-ray, optical, and radio afterglows in 1997 brought about a revolution in GRB science. I will briefly review the history of GRBs and then concentrate on recent GRB developments, highlighting results obtained by our group. The most
significant involves GRB 030329, which made clear that at least some GRBs arise from core-collapse SNe. I will then discuss the future directions of GRB science in the SWIFT era.