By Max Sonnenberg, The Space Reporter
Friday, July 05, 2013
Astronomers at the University of Manchester have detected mysterious radio signals from 11 billion light years away. The origins of these enigmatic radio waves have yet to be identified, as astronomers are still combing over their data.
According to the astronomers, these radio waves do not come from Earthly sources. In fact, astronomers posit that their brightness and distance promote the idea that they originate from space distances when the Universe was only half its current age.
Furthermore, astronomers posit that the burst energetics signify that they come from an intense astrophysical event associated with relativistic objects like neutron stars or black holes.
Lead author Dan Thornton, a PhD student at University of Manchester and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, notes that the study’s results suggested some intense events involving big amounts of mass or energy as the starting point of the radio bursts.
According to Thornton, a single burst of radio emission of unidentified origin was picked up outside our own Milky Way galaxy approximately six years ago but no one had any idea what it was or if it was genuine in existence. For the last four years, astronomers have looked for more of these strange radio bursts.
In the study, astronomers discuss four more radio bursts, ending any discussion of whether or not these radio bursts are real. According to the authors, the radio bursts last for only a few milliseconds and the most distant one that they identified was approximately 11 billion light years away from Earth.
Interestingly, the discoveries also provide evidence for the theory that there should be one of these radio bursts being released every 10 seconds. According to Michael Kramer, a professor at the University of Manchester and the Max-Planck Institute Director, the radio bursts lost for only a few milliseconds, meaning that with the available technology astronomers have to be observing the right location at the right time to detect them. However, the ability to view the entire sky, all of the time, would lead to the discovery of radio bursts on a much more frequent basis.
To make their discoveries, the international research team utilized the CSIRO Parkes 64-meter radio telescope in Australia.
According to co-author Matthew Bailes, a professor at the Swinburne University of Technology, the radio bursts may originate from “magnetars.” Magnetars have the ability to give off more energy in a millisecond than our Sun gives off in 300,000 years and are the principal suspect for the mysterious radio signals.
According to the astronomers, the findings will help scientists learn more about characteristics of space between the Earth and where the bursts originated.
Ben Strappers, a professor at the University of Manchester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, posits that astronomers are still uncertain about what space is like between galaxies, but these radio signals will offer key data in their quest to learn more about the Universe.
The study’s findings are discussed in greater detail in the journal Science.
What are the origins of these mysterious radio signals? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Astronomers at the University of Manchester have detected mysterious radio signals from 11 billion light years away. The origins of these enigmatic radio waves have yet to be identified, as astronomers are still combing over their data.
According to the astronomers, these radio waves do not come from Earthly sources. In fact, astronomers posit that their brightness and distance promote the idea that they originate from space distances when the Universe was only half its current age.
Furthermore, astronomers posit that the burst energetics signify that they come from an intense astrophysical event associated with relativistic objects like neutron stars or black holes.
Lead author Dan Thornton, a PhD student at University of Manchester and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, notes that the study’s results suggested some intense events involving big amounts of mass or energy as the starting point of the radio bursts.
According to Thornton, a single burst of radio emission of unidentified origin was picked up outside our own Milky Way galaxy approximately six years ago but no one had any idea what it was or if it was genuine in existence. For the last four years, astronomers have looked for more of these strange radio bursts.
In the study, astronomers discuss four more radio bursts, ending any discussion of whether or not these radio bursts are real. According to the authors, the radio bursts last for only a few milliseconds and the most distant one that they identified was approximately 11 billion light years away from Earth.
Interestingly, the discoveries also provide evidence for the theory that there should be one of these radio bursts being released every 10 seconds. According to Michael Kramer, a professor at the University of Manchester and the Max-Planck Institute Director, the radio bursts lost for only a few milliseconds, meaning that with the available technology astronomers have to be observing the right location at the right time to detect them. However, the ability to view the entire sky, all of the time, would lead to the discovery of radio bursts on a much more frequent basis.
To make their discoveries, the international research team utilized the CSIRO Parkes 64-meter radio telescope in Australia.
According to co-author Matthew Bailes, a professor at the Swinburne University of Technology, the radio bursts may originate from “magnetars.” Magnetars have the ability to give off more energy in a millisecond than our Sun gives off in 300,000 years and are the principal suspect for the mysterious radio signals.
According to the astronomers, the findings will help scientists learn more about characteristics of space between the Earth and where the bursts originated.
Ben Strappers, a professor at the University of Manchester’s School of Physics and Astronomy, posits that astronomers are still uncertain about what space is like between galaxies, but these radio signals will offer key data in their quest to learn more about the Universe.
The study’s findings are discussed in greater detail in the journal Science.
What are the origins of these mysterious radio signals? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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