Astronomers pinpoint the origin of a 10 billion-year-old millisecond signal from space - The Conversation
Astronomers have identified the origin of a 10 billion-year-old fast radio burst using the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa. This discovery provides new insights into the early universe and the nature of transient space signals.
Why it matters
Understanding the origins of these mysterious radio bursts helps scientists map the evolution of the universe and the distribution of matter in space.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Themiya Nanayakkara (USYD), Joseph DePasquale (STScI) , CC BY Astronomers pinpoint the origin of a 10 billion‑year‑old millisecond signal from space Published: October 8, 2026 8.05pm BST https://theconversation.com/astronomers-pinpoint-the-origin-of-a-10-billion-year-old-millisecond-signal-from-space-293671 https://theconversation.com/astronomers-pinpoint-the-origin-of-a-10-billion-year-old-millisecond-signal-from-space-293671 Link copied Share article Share article
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More than 10 billion years ago, something in a distant galaxy gave off an incredibly bright burst of radio waves which lasted just a few milliseconds.
In new research published today in Science , our team tracked it back to its origin in a small galaxy filled with many young stars, when the universe was only one-fifth of its current age.
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