Astronomers have identified a dead star as the origin of unusual radio pulses coming from within our Milky Way galaxy. The pulsing phenomenon, observed over the past decade, would pulse every two hours like a “cosmic heartbeat.”
Researchers used the Low-Frequency Array telescope to detect the long radio blasts, which lasted between 30 and 90 seconds. Initially, scientists believed that the pulses originated from outside the galaxy but later focused on a faint red dwarf star. The team developed a method to identify radio pulses lasting seconds to minutes within the archives of the LOFAR telescope.
The study revealed two possible causes behind the pulses: either the white dwarf has a strong magnetic field releasing the pulses or the magnetic fields of the red dwarf and white dwarf interact as they orbit. To understand the origin, researchers observed the system in ultraviolet light and plan to monitor radio light and X-rays during a pulse event.
This discovery could help scientists better understand what types of stars are capable of producing radio pulses across the cosmos. The finding is significant because it provides insight into the history and dynamics of two entwined stars and could lead to further discoveries, including signals that may be created by intelligent life.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/14/science/milky-way-radio-pulses/index.html