Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are sudden flashes of radio waves that have puzzled scientists since their discovery in 2007. These brief events have been detected thousands of times across the sky, but their origins remain a mystery.
A recent study has shed new light on one such burst, FRB 20240209A, which was discovered in an ancient elliptical galaxy approximately 2 billion light years from Earth. The researchers used a newly commissioned radio telescope to pinpoint the source with high accuracy and found that it was located at the outskirts of this dead galaxy.
However, when telescopes were turned to the region, they revealed a long-dead galaxy without active star factories, contradicting expectations. A team led by Vishwangi Shah refined the calculations and confirmed that the burst’s location was surprising and raises questions about how such energetic events occur in regions where no new stars are forming.
This discovery challenges existing theories that tie FRB origins to phenomena in star-forming galaxies. The researchers believe that alternative ideas, such as the presence of a magnetar in a globular cluster, could explain the burst’s origin. If confirmed, it would make FRB 20240209A only the second FRB linked to a globular cluster.
The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and highlights the promise of improved detection tools, such as the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) and its outrigger telescopes. These advancements will enable astronomers to pinpoint FRBs with unprecedented accuracy, potentially uncovering new insights into these enigmatic events.
Despite ongoing research, many questions remain unanswered about fast radio bursts. Nevertheless, scientists remain committed to unraveling their secrets, driven by the pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/fast-radio-burst-frb-20240209a-detected-from-dead-galaxy-should-not-be-possible