Astronomers Detect a Radio 'Heartbeat' Billions of Light-Years from Earth (mit.edu) 39
Astronomers at MIT and universities across Canada and the United States have detected a strange and persistent radio signal from a far-off galaxy that appears to be flashing with surprising regularity. From a report:The signal is classified as a fast radio burst, or FRB -- an intensely strong burst of radio waves of unknown astrophysical origin, that typically lasts for a few milliseconds at most. However, this new signal persists for up to three seconds, about 1,000 times longer than the average FRB. Within this window, the team detected bursts of radio waves that repeat every 0.2 seconds in a clear periodic pattern, similar to a beating heart. The researchers have labeled the signal FRB 20191221A, and it is currently the longest-lasting FRB, with the clearest periodic pattern, detected to date.
The source of the signal lies in a distant galaxy, several billion light-years from Earth. Exactly what that source might be remains a mystery, though astronomers suspect the signal could emanate from either a radio pulsar or a magnetar, both of which are types of neutron stars -- extremely dense, rapidly spinning collapsed cores of giant stars. There are not many things in the universe that emit strictly periodic signals," says Daniele Michilli, a postdoc in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. âoeExamples that we know of in our own galaxy are radio pulsars and magnetars, which
The source of the signal lies in a distant galaxy, several billion light-years from Earth. Exactly what that source might be remains a mystery, though astronomers suspect the signal could emanate from either a radio pulsar or a magnetar, both of which are types of neutron stars -- extremely dense, rapidly spinning collapsed cores of giant stars. There are not many things in the universe that emit strictly periodic signals," says Daniele Michilli, a postdoc in MIT's Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. âoeExamples that we know of in our own galaxy are radio pulsars and magnetars, which
what the fuck (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
Ya, this would never occur to astronomers. They must have been born yesterday. Maybe you could tell them what they are doing wrong.
Ringing from a choke (Score:5, Funny)
That's just ringing from one of the inductors in the power supply running the universe simulation. Nothing to see here. :-D
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Been here since chips&dips but rarely login.
I miss the "old days" here, thank you for the wonderfully intelligent comment, I needed a good laugh today!
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I’m not saying it’s aliens. (Score:1)
but it’s aliens.
Re: (Score:2)
Is it a countdown?
Re: I’m not saying it’s aliens. (Score:2)
Sale starts Friday!
Which WHAT? Which WHAT? (Score:5, Funny)
"Examples that we know of in our own galaxy are radio pulsars and magnetars, which"
The writer is clearly a master of suspense! I can't wait for the next installment!
As a new dad, this comment is fair game (Score:3)
The writer is clearly a master of suspense! I can't wait for the next installment!
How do you keep someone in suspense?
I'll tell you later.
Re: (Score:2)
The dupe will set you free.
Just wait a few hours... maybe days if you're unlucky.
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Stay tuned for the next FRB!
The message has been decoded! (Score:4, Funny)
Scientists have decoded the radio transmission:
We see your car warranty has expired....
Re:The message has been decoded! (Score:5, Funny)
Scientists have decoded the radio transmission:
We see your car warranty has expired....
s/car/planet/
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Actually [looks around : heatwaves, AGW, still ozone holes, falling ocean pH ...] that would explain quite a lot. Some people are certainly acting that way. And like it's a hired car, not your own.
Re: (Score:2)
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Scientists have decoded the radio transmission:
We see your car warranty has expired....
s/car/planet/
s/planet/star/
Go big or go home!
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I don't believe it. I've checked and doublechecked. The message is clear:
"Mars needs women"
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pfft, everybody knows that Santa Claus conquered the Martians [youtube.com] in the 1960s.
Technical paper (Score:5, Informative)
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Well, the given name is certainly "in the field [arxiv.org]", but I'll have to look deeper for this paper.
Nope, still not seeing this paper on ArXiv - which is unusual. But this one [arxiv.org] "Sub-second periodicity in a fast radio burst" from about this time last year suggests that the work isn't entirely as ground breaking as the press release would suggest. That's press releases for you - fur coat and n
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...but this one [arxiv.org] "Sub-second periodicity in a fast radio burst" from about this time last year suggests that the work isn't entirely as ground breaking as the press release would suggest
I think the ground breaking part is how long it's lasting. From TFS:
...typically lasts for a few milliseconds at most. However, this new signal persists for up to three seconds, about 1,000 times longer than the average FRB
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Either of which would imply that the FRB engine, "shutter" and us are currently aligned, but that won't last long. And the eventual (increasing) misalignment of the three would in itself be informative as the "engi
This is exciting. (Score:2)
The short pulse rate seems inconsistent with the very long pulse width. And the intensity. Maybe gravitational lensing?
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> Pulse rate decreases as the age increases. Pulse length I guess is distance dependent?
My LIMITED understanding of pulsars is that pulse frequency is largely determined by the axial spin. And that age can affect it a little, I thought that age primarily affects the brightness. Pulse length then is determined by how aligned it is to us. e.g. do we see a LOT of its "arctic" circle? Or just a little sliver?
To me, this sounds like a magnetar that is quite aligned and pretty big and pretty slow spinning.
better kill it quick (Score:1)
What a silly comparison. (Score:2)
Three beat sequence is
a) nothing like a heartbeat which is generally regarded as 2-beats (ok there are lots of different waves in a heartbeat, we're talking what people hear when they listen)
b) the periodicity of 0.2 seconds means 500 beats per minute, which is pretty unhealthy unless you're a hamster or a mouse.
Why can't we get this in "Olympic Swimming Pools" or "Libraries of Congress" so we can all understand?
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b) the periodicity of 0.2 seconds means 500 beats per minute
5 beats per second, 60 seconds per minute... that's 300 beats per minute.
Re: What a silly comparison. (Score:2)
So about the top speed of Iron Maiden's drummer.
You know what would be REALLY interesting? (Score:2)
beep beep
beep beep beep beep
beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep
Then we'd have something.
Re: (Score:3)
beep
beep
beep beep
beep beep beep
beep beep beep beep beep
beep beep beep beep beep beep beep beep
Re: You know what would be REALLY interesting? (Score:2)
Ah. Film or book version of Contact?
Perfect timing (Score:3)
Article Headline: "Magnetars Exist." (Score:1)
That's the correct level of intensity and drama that the article warrants.
Timekeeping signal (Score:2)
Any year now, astronomers will detect modulation on the heartbeat:
At the gamma ray burst, the eon will be...