Astronomers discover a record number of 25 radio signals from deep space – Enséñame de Ciencia

Humanity has observed stars be born and die, galaxies collide and holes negros devour everything in its path, all thanks to the technology that has developed over time and can increasingly be improved to obtain best results. This is how science advances. However, it also keeps us surprised with new discoveries that may seem completely otherworldly and expand the limits of our knowledge. Recentlyand astronomical discovery has baffled astronomers: the discovery of a record amount of 25 radio signals from deep space.

It turns out that the Fast Radio Bursts (RFB) are extremely short bursts of radio waves, with durations that are barely reach milliseconds. Although they are almost rare, these gusts are extraordinarily powerful and emit a surprisingly high amount of energy in such a short period of time. In fact, Each burst releases more energy in milliseconds than the Sun produces in three days. Imagine!

Where do these gusts come from?

Although it is believed that These bursts may originate from other galaxies, its exact source still remains a mystery. One of the most prominent theories suggests that these bursts could be emitted by extremely dense astronomical objects, for example to neutron stars, black holes, pulsars and magnetars. In 2020, the possibility was raised that some of these gusts could come from our own galaxybut not knowing exactly where, it becomes worse, because we do not know where to look having so “close” to the origin of the emission.

The discovery of these 25 new repeating radio bursts it was possible thanks to the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), a cutting-edge radio telescope located in the Radio Astrophysical Observatory. Although the main objective of CHIME was to measure the expansion of the Universe by observing the length of light wave passing through neutral hydrogen, its ability to detect these fast radio bursts makes it an invaluable tool for modern astronomy.

What are they like exactly?

Las repetitive bursts discovered are different from normal fast radio bursts. They have a longer duration longer and are widersuggesting that they could originate from different sources or low different conditions. Each of these bursts has unique characteristics, such as its dispersion measurement, which varies due to the interactions that the flash has with the material on its trajectory through space.

Although more than 1,000 fast radio bursts have been identified in total, only 29 of them have been shown to be repetitive, albeit irregularly. Ziggy Pleunis, an expert on the subjectsuggests that sources that have emitted a single burst over time could also become repetitive.

As the scientists continue investigating and analyzing these mysterious flashes, we are likely to get closer than ever to finally unmasking more of all the secrets that the universe has.