Record-Breaking Fast Radio Burst Detected from Distant Galaxy
Last year, something incredible occurred in a far-away galaxy that unleashed a remarkably powerful burst of radio waves, traveling through the vastness of the universe. On June 10, this burst reached the Earth and was detected by a radio telescope in Australia. Known as a fast radio burst (FRB), this phenomenon has only been discovered recently, with the first observation occurring in 2007.
Astronomers have now revealed that this specific FRB is not only more intense but also originated from a significantly greater distance compared to any previously recorded bursts. It traveled a staggering eight billion light years from a time when the universe was less than half its current age. The origins of FRBs continue to be one of astronomy’s most intriguing mysteries, with various theories proposed, including the possibility of alien life. However, scientists believe magnetars, which are highly magnetic dead stars located in distant regions of the universe, are the most likely culprits.
Ryan Shannon, an astrophysicist from Swinburne University in Australia, expressed astonishment at the detection of the radio burst by the ASKAP radio telescope. He described it as “mind-blowing” that they were able to capture the burst after it had traveled for eight billion years, lasting only a fraction of a millisecond. Shannon stated that hundreds of thousands of FRBs could be occurring daily, but so far, only around a thousand have been detected. Determining the origins of these bursts is crucial in unraveling their nature.
Researchers used the Very Large Telescope in Chile to trace the latest burst, labeled as FRB 20220610A, to a galaxy known for its dense structure, which may have been the result of mergers with one or two other galaxies. This peculiar environment could potentially explain the existence of the magnetar. Shannon stressed that this is currently the team’s most plausible hypothesis since FRBs have been observed coming from unexpected sources, including within our own Milky Way galaxy.
Aside from solving the mystery of FRBs, scientists also hope to use them as a tool for exploring another enigma in the universe. A previous radio burst detected from a distant galaxy exhibited a repeating pattern, transmitting signals that reached Earth every 157 days. These bursts could provide valuable insights into the composition of the universe, particularly in relation to dark matter and dark energy, which make up the majority of the cosmos.
Scientists estimate that only five percent of the universe consists of normal matter, while the rest is believed to be comprised of dark matter and dark energy. However, when accounting for all the stars and galaxies, more than half of the normal matter appears to be missing. The missing matter is hypothesized to exist in the form of extremely thin filaments known as the cosmic web, which connect galaxies. Unfortunately, current telescopes are unable to detect this diffuse matter.
This is where fast radio bursts become invaluable, as they carry the signature of the gas they traverse. Some wavelengths of FRBs are slightly affected by the matter they pass through, allowing scientists to measure it. By studying these bursts, researchers hope to determine the amount of matter within the cosmic web and ultimately calculate the weight of the entire universe. The recent record-breaking FRB indicated the presence of additional materials it encountered during its journey. However, to obtain an accurate measurement of the universe’s weight, hundreds more FRBs will need to be observed using advanced radio telescopes that are expected to come online in the near future.
Liam Connor, an astrophysicist from the California Institute of Technology, anticipates that these future telescopes will detect tens of thousands of FRBs, enabling scientists to measure the matter across different cosmic eras. Their findings have the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the vast cosmic landscape.
