Gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows have provided important clues to the nature
of these massive explosive events, providing direct information on the nearby
environment and indirect information on the central engine that powers the
burst. We report the discovery of two bright X-ray flares in GRB afterglows,
including a giant flare comparable in total energy to the burst itself, each
peaking minutes after the burst. These strong, rapid X-ray flares imply that
the central engines of the bursts have long periods of activity, with strong
internal shocks continuing for hundreds of seconds after the gamma-ray emission
has ended.Comment: 12 pages, 1 table, 2 figures. Originally submitted to Nature on
6/6/05. Declined on 6/9/05. Revised and submitted to Science on 6/14/05.
Accepted for publication in Science on 7/29/05 (this version
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