Astronomers have detected fast-repeating radio bursts from a distant "dead" galaxy that should not contain the energy to produce these types of signals.

Summary

Astronomers have detected fast radio bursts (FRBs) from an ancient “dead” elliptical galaxy 2 billion light-years away, challenging existing theories.

FRBs are typically linked to young, energy-rich stars in star-forming galaxies, but this dormant galaxy contains only old stars.

The bursts, named FRB 20240209A, were identified using the CHIME telescope and pinpointed with the Gemini North telescope.

Researchers suggest the bursts may originate from merging neutron stars.

This discovery could deepen understanding of distant galaxies and the universe’s structure.

  • sp3ctr4lEnglish
    26•2 days ago

    My first guess was… huh, could it be a pulsar, a magnetar?

    And then:

    Astronomers hypothesize that the FRBs could be originating from two supernoir remnants, called neutron stars, that are merging or collapsing onto themselves, Shah said.

    Ah, ok, so I was on right track, powerful neutron stars having starquakes or colliding…

    I was wrong on the terminology though.

    Apparently neutron stars are not supernova remnants, but they are what’s left over after a particularily compelling detective story, like an extra galactic version of ‘Chinatown’ or something.

    Thanks for the clarification ABC!

    EDIT:

    I know someone can say I inspect element edited it, but I swear I didn’t.

    Can you even do that on mobile Firefox?

    • snooggumsEnglish
      9•2 days ago

      Science!

      Having more information always shows that existing theories and assumptions have exceptions or more complexity that we just had not come across yet.

      • @[email protected]English
        1•2 days ago

        A pet peeve of mine.

        We have had consensus for a while that gravity is caused by the bending of spacetime.

        Fundamental forces are named that way because we can no longer explain them as being caused by something else.

        Gravity and not spacetime is still considered a fundamental force.

        • @not_woody_shawEnglish
          1•1 day ago

          Gravity doesn’t care what a fundamental force is, or who considers it to be one. It just exists. The labels humans put on such things are entirely arbitrary.