Researchers detect first repeating radio bursts to come from distant galaxy

[John1956PA]

1. From Newsweek: repeating signals from the area of the dwarf galaxy were first detected in 2016.

Last edited Fri Sep 1, 2017, 05:58 AM - Edit history (1)

Last week's detection of a series of 15 signals allowed scientists to determine that the signals were coming from the dwarf galaxy.

The Newsweek article concludes with the statement, "Despite widespread speculation, the possibility of the signals coming from an advanced alien civilization has been largely ruled out."

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From the August 30 Newsweek article at http://www.newsweek.com/frb-fast-radio-bursts-deep-space-breakthrough-listen-657144 :

Repeating radio signals from a mysterious source in a dwarf galaxy 3 billion light-years away have been detected by astronomers.

Using the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, scientists with the Breakthrough Listen initiative—a massive project dedicated to finding signs of intelligent alien life—recorded 15 repeating fast radio bursts (FRBs) on August 26. The discovery was announced as an Astronomer's Telegram and will be described in further detail in a forthcoming scientific article, according to a statement from Breakthrough Listen.

FRBs last just a few milliseconds and appear to be coming from deep space. Because FRBs have an extremely short duration, and because scientists usually find them in data only after the event has taken place, pinpointing their origin has not been possible.
. . .

On edit: Clarifying that the signals were first discovered in 2016, and that the recent series of 15 signals have allowed scientists to track their origin to the dwarf galaxy.