Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

Elusive signal deepens the mystery of fast radio bursts

% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


Astrophysicists have been baffled by fast radio bursts (FRBs), millisecond-long flurries of radio signals thought to come from deep in the cosmos.

A new study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters has revealed major details about FRBs, specifically how they might be related to bursts of y-rays. The study team said their work could help to explain the origins of FRBs.

“If FRBs have γ-ray counterparts, it would be hugely constraining of models and extremely interesting,” Victoria Kaspi, an astrophysicist at McGill University who was not involved in the study, told Nature News.

Connecting the Bursts with Y-Rays

According to the report, researchers noticed that y-rays appeared almost simultaneously and from the same direction as a fast radio burst event called FRB 131104, named for the date it was seen: November 4, 2013.

Despite apparently being linked, the two signals tell different stories about their source, thought to be 10 billion light years away. While the FRB lasted a few milliseconds, the y-ray burst lasted between 2 and 6 minutes. The y-ray burst also contained much more energy than the FRB.

This has major ramifications for theories surrounding the source of FRBs. One primary theory has said FRBs are flares from remote magnetars, neutron stars with massive magnetic fields capable of producing brief, energetic blasts of energy, and do so consistently, as a minimum of one FRB is known to do. Despite the fact that magnetars are believed to generate y-rays, they would not give off such high energy and over that long a period of time.

“This is a severe challenge for magnetar models,” said study author Derek Fox, an astrophysicist at Penn State.

The y-ray signal did look like phenomena later recognized as coming from either a supernova or a supermassive black hole as it ingested a star, Fox said. The issue with both of these possibilities is that neither is known to create radio bursts.

A different possibility is that both signals came from a neutron star collision. However, that would not explain all FRBs, as neutron star collisions are considered to be fairly uncommon, while data suggests FRBs are quite frequent, happening around once every ten seconds.

It also isn’t clear the two detected signals came from the same source. Statistically, the possibility that the two signals would occur at the same time is just 1 in 800.The possibility of combined events does pass the statistical threshold required to conclude they are generated by the same source, but the finding is so unheard of – more evidence is needed, according to Kaspi.

“Extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence,” she said.

—–

Image credit: Spectrum Astro/NASA

The post Elusive signal deepens the mystery of fast radio bursts appeared first on Redorbit.

redOrbit.com
offers Science, Space, Technology, Health news, videos, images and reference information. For the latest science news, space news, technology news, health news visit redOrbit.com frequently. Learn something new every day.”


Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1113416551/deep-space-signals-111816/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

    Comments

    Your Comments
    Question   Razz  Sad   Evil  Exclaim  Smile  Redface  Biggrin  Surprised  Eek   Confused   Cool  LOL   Mad   Twisted  Rolleyes   Wink  Idea  Arrow  Neutral  Cry   Mr. Green

    MOST RECENT
    Load more ...

    SignUp

    Login

    Newsletter

    Email this story
    Email this story

    If you really want to ban this commenter, please write down the reason:

    If you really want to disable all recommended stories, click on OK button. After that, you will be redirect to your options page.