Looking for intelligent life out there is not easy. With massive distances between the galaxies, any sort of signal takes a while to reach another point in the universe. But, several radio bursts, the fifth of which, has been appearing on the earthlings' radar for over a year now. These fast radio bursts have become the subject of excitement for astronomers who are searching for life as proof of intelligent species out there besides us. Radio signals are the best medium for sending messages in the vastness of space. After ten long years, this might prove that extraterrestrial (ET) lifeforms are out there.
Signals are found all over other places in the galaxies, and pinpointing their origin is not an easy task with the current technology yet to reach that level of sophistication. One signal, however, has attracted more attention than the others, that eight telescopes co-opted to find the source. To get the best findings and track the signal, these telescopes were spaced from The UK to China. Scientists from all over the world and West Virginia University are the brain-trust assigned with the task of investigating these mysterious radio bursts.
Step one is identifying what kind of fast radio burst is sent from the source galaxy. They are two types that are classified as multiple flashers and signals that do not repeat, and the last is one burst that is it. One notable oddity is that most detected signals are either non-repeater or one burst events, but the signal is a consistent repeater. This is rare and a repeating signal is something to run after to verify its possible source.
One of the scientists remarked that the signal is similar to what is broadcasted from the earth. Stating that more important is where in the universe it came from. There is speculation that ETs send radio signals the same as ours, and the vastness of what is in between is too far. Identifying the exact location is not an exact science, more so is everything else is in the unknown. These radio signals were first detected by the Very Large Array observatory in New Mexico which received the first signals from space.
Amongst all the signals received, it seems the radio burst is very near and scientists are abuzz with it.
They found it in the arm of the Milky Way, where the solar system is found. Learning about the nature of fast radio bursts from this signal will be something to look forward to by scientists. As more understanding of how the signal behaves in space and how other factors affect how it is transmitted makes it easier for them.
One of the methods to send fast radio bursts is Very Long Baseline Interferometry, which can send a signal far as seven light-years from earth. A clue was revealed about the analyzed FRB, it was sent from a dwarf galaxy with metals and stars too. Comparable to seeing someone on the moon, when on planet earth. Using this more precise method, with a better understanding of where the burst came from. Another way to investigate the unknown nature of fast radio bursts.
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