Gamma-ray bursts as the birth-cries of black holes

The origin of cosmic gamma,ray bursts remains one of the most intriguing pu zzles in astronomy. We suggest that purely general relativistic effects in the collapse of massive stars could account for these bursts. The late form ation of closed trapped surfaces can occur naturally, allowing the escape o f huge energy from curvature-generated fireballs, before these are hidden w ithin a black hole.