The most distant burst, at 12.8 billion light-years, occurred when the universe was 6 percent of its present age, Dr. Schaefer said.

When the men were only a few paces away, a distant burst of lightning lit up the sky.

Then, amid a momentary hush, came the distant burst of a departing laugh.

At the time of its discovery, GRB 000131 was the most distant burst ever detected.

It was the most distant short-hard burst found to that date for which a redshift could be determined.

There was a pause, then a distant burst of laughter from the lost survey team.

This corresponds to a distance of 7.4 billion light years, making it the oldest and most distant short burst ever detected.

At night, there are distant bursts of gunfire, but nowhere near the number these soldiers heard when they first arrived.

Once or twice the hull shudders to a distant burst.

The situation made sense in distant bursts.