Gamma rays are the most energetic form of light in the universe. By studying them, this project seeks to understand some of the most energetic and mysterious cosmic phenomena, including exploding stars and black holes. One of the central questions in high-energy astrophysics is how subatomic particles traveling through space at nearly the speed of light, known as “cosmic rays,” reach extraordinarily high energies. This project supports efforts to identify and study the most powerful natural particle accelerators in the universe, known as “PeVatrons.” These astrophysical sources reach energies far beyond those of even the most advanced human-made accelerators and are believed to be responsible for the highest-energy cosmic rays that reach Earth. Insights from this work will help reveal the origin of cosmic rays, deepen our understanding of the extreme environments around supernovae and black holes, and may inspire future technologies that build on the physics of high-energy particles. This research has also opened a new window to study our own Sun. The unexpected detection of ultra-energetic gamma rays from the Sun challenges current understanding of solar physics and may shed light on how stars like our own behave under extreme conditions. This work promotes the progress of science by opening new observational windows into extreme energy environments, contributes to national scientific capacity by supporting student training and broadening participation in physics research, a