Dead Star signal can finally help learn the origins of fast radio bursts, scientists say



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While other theories suggest that fast radio bursts can be sent by aliens or emitted by supernovae, a new recent discovery suggests a different origin for these enigmatic transmissions.

While so-called fast radio bursts (FRB) are not new, as the first such signal was picked up by scientists in 2007, it appears that for the first time, such a burst from a body was recently detected. celestial galaxy, reports Science Alert.

The signal in question, emanating from magnetar SGR 1935 + 2154, which is about 30,000 light-years away from our planet, was picked up by observatories on Earth on April 28.

And according to the media, although “the work on this event is very preliminary”, as astronomers are still struggling to analyze the data they have obtained, this discovery may finally help solve the mystery of the origins of such signals, as well as other theories Suggest supernovae and aliens as possible sources.

“This type of, in the minds of most people, states that the origin of FRBs come from magnetars,” said astronomer Shrinivas Kulkarni of Caltech.

Astronomers were also able to detect “the X-ray counterpart” of the signal, and astrophysicist Sandro Mereghetti of the National Institute of Astrophysics in Italy noted that this is “a very intriguing result and supports the association between FRB and magnetars.”

“The FRBs identified so far are extragalactic. They have never been detected on X-ray / gamma rays. An X-ray burst with a luminosity like that of SGR1935 would be undetectable for an extragalactic source,” Mereghetti said.

However, the media outlet points out that even if the SGR 1935 + 2154 signal confirms the magnetar origin of the FRBs, which remains to be seen, it will not mean that magnetars are the only source of such signals.



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