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An alien signal, reverberating through the void of space, was recently detected on Earth & and confirmed to be emerging from an ancient, dead galaxy.
The identification of the source of these Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) has the ability to revolutionize our understanding of the universe's most powerful and enigmatic signals. FRBs are extraordinarily brief yet intense bursts of radio waves that have originated from the depths of space. Even after lasting only a few milliseconds, these bursts release as much energy as the Sun generates in an entire year.
Although they possess tremendous energy, FRBs are difficult to study due to their transient nature & the enormous distances they travel before reaching Earth.
FRB 20240209A has been confirmed to be originating from beyond a dead galaxy. "This is not only the first FRB to be found outside a dead galaxy, but, compared to all other FRBs, it's also the farthest from the galaxy it's associated with. The FRB's location is surprising and raises questions about how such energetic events can occur in regions where no new stars are forming," stated Vishwangi Shah, the lead author of the study. The findings, published in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters, elaborate that pinpointing FRBs to their host galaxies is a top method in uncovering their origins.
FRBs offer a unique opportunity to explore the universe. As radio waves travel through intergalactic space, studying FRBs can give information into the density and composition of cosmic matter, magnetic fields, and even the universe’s early stages.
"This result challenges existing theories that tie FRB origins to phenomena in star-forming galaxies. The source could be in a globular cluster, a dense region of old, dead stars outside the galaxy. If confirmed, it would make FRB 20240209A only the second FRB linked to a globular cluster," Shah told. She added that the other FRB originating in a globular cluster was related with a live galaxy.
This discovery challenges our previous understanding of FRBs & underscores the important role that their environments play in unraveling their origins.