Astronomers Detect Mysterious Signal from Ancient Dead Galaxy

Astronomers have reported a groundbreaking discovery of a mysterious signal known as a fast radio burst (FRB) originating from an ancient, dead galaxy located billions of light years away. This finding challenges the long-held belief that FRBs emanate predominantly from star-forming regions, as it appears that the signal, designated FRB 20240209A, comes from the outskirts of a galaxy that no longer supports new star creation.

According to studies published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, the signal emerged from a region about 130,000 light years from the galaxy's center, populated only by fading stars nearing the end of their life cycle. Lead author Vishwangi Shah of McGill University expressed excitement over the discovery, noting its implications for understanding the origins of FRBs, which typically release more energy in a single pulse than the Sun does in an entire year.

Previously, FRBs were thought to be connected to magnetars—highly magnetic neutron stars formed from massive stars. However, the absence of young stars in this ancient galaxy raises questions regarding this theory. The researchers aim to utilize the James Webb Telescope to further explore the region around the FRB’s source to determine its exact origin.

This discovery follows a similar observation made in 2022, where another FRB signal was found in a barren area of its galaxy, prompting a reevaluation of existing theories. With these findings, scientists are hopeful to uncover new progenitor scenarios for FRBs.