Record-Breaking Fast Radio Burst from Early Universe Traced to Tiny, Star-Forming Galaxy
Astronomers have identified the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) ever recorded, originating from a small, star-forming galaxy 10 billion years ago. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers linked the event to a young magnetar rather than a neutron star merger.
Why it matters
This discovery provides critical data on the origins of mysterious cosmic radio bursts and helps scientists understand the evolution of galaxies in the early universe.
This fast radio burst, designated FRB 20240304B, is the most distant ever detected, having traveled more than 10 billion years across the cosmos to reach Earth.
This Webb image shows the host galaxy of FRB 20240304B (shown by the white cross). Image credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI / Themiya Nanayakkara, USYD / Joseph DePasquale, STScI.
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are among the most mysterious objects in astronomy.
Lasting only milliseconds, these events release enormous amounts of energy but their origins remain uncertain.
Theories range from highly magnetized neutron stars, blasted by gas streams near to a supermassive black hole, to suggestions that the burst properties are consistent with signatures of technology developed by an advanced civilization.
“What makes fast radio bursts interesting is that we don’t know what generates them,” said Dr. Manisha Caleb, an astronomer at the University of Sydney.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in