8 billion-year mystery: Powerful radio signal reaches earth from deep space

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ET OnlineLast Updated: Sep 17, 2024, 02:02:00 PM IST

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Synopsis

A burst of radio waves, FRB 20220610A, has reached Earth after an 8 billion-year journey. Detected by the ASKAP telescope and traced to an older, distant galaxy, this event intrigues scientists. Fast radio bursts are brief but powerful, and studying them could enhance our understanding of the universe.

A remarkable burst of radio waves has reached Earth after an incredible 8 billion-year journey through space, according to a report by Earth.com. Known as FRB 20220610A, this burst is among the most distant and energetic radio signals ever detected.

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Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are fleeting yet intensely powerful flashes of radio waves that last only milliseconds. Despite their brief duration, their origins continue to baffle scientists and spark great interest.

Dr. Stuart Ryder, an astronomer at Macquarie University in Australia, is part of a dedicated team working to decode the mysteries of this cosmic phenomenon. By employing advanced technologies and collaborative research, they hope to uncover the origins and implications of these bursts, potentially offering new insights into the universe's fundamental processes and the forces shaping it.

What Are Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs)?

Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are brief, intense flashes of radio waves that last just milliseconds. First discovered in 2007, these bursts have intrigued scientists around the globe.

The recent FRB emitted as much energy as our sun produces over 30 years, all in the blink of an eye.

Scientists speculate that these bursts might be associated with magnetars, which are remnants of exploded stars with intense magnetic fields.

The Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) telescope was used to detect and trace the origin of this burst. The European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope was then used to identify the source galaxy, which was found to be older and more distant than any previously known FRB source.

Nearly 50 FRBs have been traced back to their origins, with approximately half discovered by the ASKAP telescope.

Scientists believe that studying these FRBs could help us better understand the universe.

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