In March 2025, Earth was struck by a cosmic blast of energy, a fast radio burst (FRB) that packed the sun's raw power into a fleeting millisecond flash.
These enigmatic signals are among the universe's most intense and mysterious phenomena. Astronomers often compare detecting an FRB to spotting a supremely powerful lighthouse that flickers for an instant from across a vast, cosmic ocean.
Scientists Trace Origin of Powerful, Mysterious Radio Wave From Deep Space.
While simply catching one is a feat, a international team of scientists has now achieved the ultimate prize: pinpointing the extraordinary source of this specific burst, cracking a code that has puzzled astronomers for years.
We have observed an FRB from within our own galaxy that originated from a known magnetar, providing the first direct proof that at least some FRBs come from these objects.