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posted by janrinok on Thursday January 11 2018, @12:53PM   Printer-friendly
from the or-is-it-inter-galactic-wifi? dept.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) may be caused by neutron stars (pulsars) experiencing unusual conditions, such as proximity to a black hole or a highly magnetized wind nebula:

The first FRB was discovered in 2007, in archived data from the Parkes Radio Telescope in Australia. Astronomers were searching for new examples of magnetised neutron stars called pulsars, but found a new phenomenon - a radio burst from 2001. Since then, 18 FRBs - also referred to as "flashes" or "sizzles" - have been found in total.

The mystery surrounding their nature has spawned a variety of different possible explanations, from black holes to extra-terrestrial intelligence.

Only one of these sources of radio energy has erupted more than once - a so-called burster catalogued as FRB 121102. This FRB has sent out around 150 flashes since its discovery in 2012.

Now, in the journal Nature [DOI: 10.1038/nature25149] [DX], a team of scientists explains how the emission might come from a neutron star, perhaps one near a black hole or one embedded in a nebula.

Previously: More Fast Radio Bursts Detected from Same Location
15 Fast Radio Bursts Detected From Distant Galaxy


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  • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 11 2018, @04:16PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 11 2018, @04:16PM (#620965)

    FFS Astrology is not Astrology, but it is not science either....!

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 11 2018, @09:29PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 11 2018, @09:29PM (#621103)

      Bananas are not apples.

  • (Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 12 2018, @12:56AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 12 2018, @12:56AM (#621210)

    Do you ever get the impression this stuff is all just made up?

    I just finished reading another one that says blackholes are 'jetting' out matter at the speed of light. Which is it, space tards? Are blackholes consuming everything, including light, or are they 'burping' out x-rays and diarrhea-crapping out matter?

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