Astronomers have discovered a “strange and persistent” radio signal coming from a galaxy far, far away.
Researchers at MIT say that the signal is the longest-lasting fast radio burst - an “intensely strong burst” of radio waves of unknown origin - with the clearest pattern that has ever been detected. Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, typically last a few milliseconds - but this latest signal lasts for up to three seconds, about 1,000 times longer than average.
Astronomers have dubbed the signal a ‘heartbeat’ due to the clear pattern they detected, with the radio wave bursts repeating every 0.2 seconds. While the source of the signal remains a mystery, experts suggest that it could be coming from a type of neutron star.
