Recently, NASA reported the 720-foot giant asteroid 2024 ON coming close to Earth, which caused panic in the world. But despite this, another scientific discovery has shaken astronomers. A powerful radio signal, named FRB 20220610A, has reached Earth after roaming in space for 8 billion years. It has proved to be the most distant and energetic signal ever, which has given a new direction to the imagination of scientists.
Importance of FRB
FRB, i.e. Fast Radio Burst, is a short flash of radio waves, which lasts only for milliseconds. It remains an unsolved mystery for scientists. The distance of FRB 20220610A has proved that this signal has come from another galaxy outside our galaxy. This gives scientists important information in the study of the past and it shows that there are many more activities in the universe, which they were unaware of till now.
Reaction of scientists
Dr. Stuart Ryder, an astronomer at Macquarie University, is leading this research team. He said that the method developed by Australian astronomer Jean-Pierre Macquart, called Macquart Relation, is playing an important role in this discovery. This study has been published in a magazine called ‘Science’.
The team has identified the galaxy from which this signal came using the telescope of the European Southern Observatory. This galaxy is much older than any previously known FRB source. Professor Ryan Shannon said that such explosions can help measure the weight of the universe.
The mystery of missing matter
According to Shannon, half of the normal matter in the universe is still missing. He suggested that these ‘missing’ substances may be hidden in the vast areas between the galaxies. FRB signals can help detect electrons, making measurements of scattered matter easier.
Fast Radio Bursts: A Brief Introduction
Fast radio bursts (FRBs) were first discovered in 2007. These bursts generate as much energy in a fraction of a second as our Sun generates in 30 years. Scientists believe that these bursts may be associated with magnetars, which are the remnants of supernova explosions.
This discovery has opened new doors in understanding the mysteries of the universe and has given scientists an opportunity to redefine their hypotheses. The discovery of the FRB 20220610A signal makes it clear that there is still a lot unknown in our universe, which can become the basis for new discoveries in the future.