Astronomers have uncovered a peculiar and powerful burst of radio energy emanating from a surprising cosmic source.
Dubbed GLEAM-X J0704-37, this signal is unlike any other observed before, lasting up to 60 seconds and repeating every three hours — a record for long-period radio transients.
Astronomers Identify Rare Radio Signal from Edge of the Milky Way
The discovery was made by researchers from the Curtin University node of the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) while analyzing old data from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), a radio telescope in Western Australia.
These bursts of energy originate from a region 5,000 light-years away in the Puppis constellation, near the edge of the Milky Way, Space.com said.
Astronomers initially struggled to identify the source of long-period radio transients. Such signals often emerge from crowded areas of the Milky Way, making it hard to pinpoint their origins.
However, GLEAM-X J0704-37 was found in a sparsely populated part of the galaxy, allowing scientists to zero in on its source using the MeerKAT telescope in South Africa.
Red and White Dwarfs Unveil Mystery Behind Powerful Radio Waves
The culprit? A binary star system featuring a red dwarf, a small and dim star, paired with a white dwarf, the dense remnant of a star that has burned out. Together, they generate periodic blasts of radio waves, likely powered by strong magnetic fields in the system.
According to Gizmodo, this pairing is especially unusual. Red dwarfs, which make up about 70% of the stars in our galaxy, are typically faint and incapable of producing the energy seen in GLEAM-X J0704-37.
The addition of the white dwarf explains how the system emits such powerful signals, offering a new perspective on the capabilities of these cosmic duos.
While the researchers have solved part of the mystery, questions remain about how exactly the magnetic interactions in this system produce the long-period bursts. The team plans to continue investigating and expects that more undiscovered signals are waiting to be found in archival data.
This discovery marks a breakthrough in understanding long-period radio transients, a phenomenon first detected nearly 20 years ago. As researchers delve deeper into the MWA's vast data archives, they anticipate uncovering more enigmatic signals, shedding light on the universe's most hidden wonders.
"This is just the beginning," said Natasha Hurley-Walker, a lead researcher on the project. "There's so much more to explore, and this discovery is a window into a part of the cosmos we're only starting to understand."
