The universe is full of mystery. No matter how much is known about the cosmos, there always seems to be more that is unknown. Every time a question is answered, more questions seem to arise, and so the process of scientific discovery is never-ending. There are many examples of what is unknown about the cosmos, but a perfect example is a phenomenon known as the Fast Radio Burst (FRB). As the name suggests, an FRB is a burst of radio waves that originate deep in interstellar space. They usually only last for up to three seconds, but whatever releases them emits more energy in one second than our sun does every day. This suggests that FRBs are created by high-energy processes, but exactly what causes them is still unknown.
Where do FRBs come from?
Most FRBs urinate in distant galaxies. Image credit: NASA/ESA
Most detected FRBs originate beyond the Milky Way, but some have been detected in our galaxy. So far, astronomers have detected around 500 FRBs, but there is still no consensus on what actually creates them. This does not mean, however, that there are no possible explanations. Some popular theories claim that FRBs originate from stellar remnants such as neutron stars or black holes. Other theories postulate that they may originate from collisions between black holes or neutron stars. Another interesting theory is that FRBs come from a type of stellar debris called magnetar. A magnetar is a type of neutron star that has an exceptionally strong magnetic field and emits large amounts of X-rays and gamma rays, and some FRBs have been traced to regions around magnetars. It is quite possible that FRBs form from multiple different events, with no single phenomenon capable of explaining the origin of each FRB.
alien origin
Hubble image of a distant galaxy. Image credit: NASA/ESA
Whenever astronomers detect signals of unknown origin, there is always the question of whether or not the signal comes from another civilization. Ever since humans began using technology to transmit signals around the world, some of the signals seep into space and travel at the speed of light. Any civilization that was pointing a radio telescope in the right direction at the right time would detect our signals. Assuming other intelligent civilizations develop radio technology, they also emit signals into space that we could detect. Thus, some astronomers have wondered if some FRBs are in fact the radio signals of another civilization. Interestingly, this is not the first time this has happened. When astronomers discovered the first pulsars, they thought they had found an alien signal, but it later turned out to be a rapidly spinning neutron star. In the case of FRBs, it is unlikely that they come from another intelligent species. This is mainly because they don’t seem to come directly from other solar systems, and the flares themselves contain so much energy that it seems unlikely that a civilization created them. Rather, a natural explanation is more likely, but exactly where FRBs come from is still unknown.
Aidan Remple December 4, 2022 in Science