WASHINGTON, March 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Studies using X-ray and ultraviolet observations from NASA's Swift satellite provide new insights into the elusive

Detectable for only a few seconds but possessing enormous energy, gamma-ray bursts are difficult to capture because their energy does not penetrate the Earth's atmosphere.

NASA reported recently that astronomers can say with certainty there is no fear of a supernova being close enough to hurt Earth, especially by 2012.

A peculiar cosmic explosion first detected by NASA's Swift observatory on Christmas Day 2010 was caused either by a novel type of supernova located billions of light-years away or an unusual collision much closer to home, within our own galaxy.

WASHINGTON, Nov.