Something is flashing at us from space – and scientists have no idea what it is
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Scientists can’t figure out mysterious signal from deep space
- Scientists have detected a mysterious, regular signal, named ASKAP J1832-0911, flashing from 15,000 light years away in space, emitting radio waves and X-rays every 44 minutes.
- The object was discovered using an Australian telescope and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, marking the first time an LPT (long-period transient) has been observed emitting both X-rays and radio signals.
- Researchers note that the X-ray and radio wave emissions from ASKAP J1832-0911 have decreased over time, an unprecedented phenomenon in the Milky Way galaxy.
- The nature of the object remains unknown, with theories suggesting it could be a magnetar or a binary star system involving a highly magnetised white dwarf, but these theories do not fully explain the observed behaviour.
- Scientists aim to continue studying ASKAP J1832-0911 and search for similar objects, hoping the X-ray emissions will provide insights into the origin and mechanism of the signals, potentially indicating new physics or stellar evolution models.