A Mystery: Radio Signals From Dead Galaxies That Have Scientists Baffled

Illustration Photo: ChatGPT depicting a mysterious radio signal traced to the outskirts of a galaxy that should have died long ago

 Komputer JaduL-, The universe holds many mysteries, one of which is dead galaxies—places where stars no longer form and cosmic life should have stopped.

However, scientists have just discovered something surprising. A mysterious radio signal was traced from the outskirts of a galaxy that should have died long ago. Quoting from News LiveScience, this phenomenon confuses astronomers because it contradicts existing understanding.

What is a Fast Radio Burst (FRB)?

The signal found is included in the category of fast radio bursts (FRB)—very powerful bursts of radio light but last very briefly, only a few milliseconds.

Usually, FRBs are associated with supernova explosions, which are events where large stars explode at the end of their lives. Therefore, FRBs are generally found in young galaxies that are still actively forming new stars.

However, recent research shows that this FRB actually comes from a galaxy that has been dead for 11 billion years. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters on January 21, 2025.

The study was conducted by scientists from Northwestern University and McGill University, using data from the CHIME radio telescope in Canada.

Unexpected Source of the Signal

Typically, FRBs are found in the centers of active galaxies that are producing lots of new stars. However, this particular signal came from the outskirts of a dead galaxy.

Tarraneh Eftekhari, one of the researchers, said the finding contradicts previous understandings of the origins of FRBs.

"Of the thousands of FRBs that have been discovered, only about a hundred have been traced to their home galaxy, and most of them come from galaxies that are still actively forming stars", Eftekhari said. In other words, the source of this signal is a cosmic anomaly. This makes scientists wonder: how could a galaxy that is supposedly devoid of new stars still produce bursts of FRBs?

Possible Explanations

Scientists have several theories to explain the phenomenon. One possibility is that two old stars collided. Another possibility is that a white dwarf, the remains of a dead star, underwent a sudden collapse, producing the FRB burst.

Co-author Vishwangi Shah said that this FRB is even more unusual because it originated from the edge of the galaxy, rather than from the center like most other FRBs. "All these surprises make this FRB different from the others", he said. While initial theories have been put forward, scientists still need more data to fully understand the phenomenon.

In the coming months, more CHIME telescopes will be deployed to capture more FRBs and trace their origins in more detail. "We hope to find more similar events and study different types of galaxies that are the source of FRBs", Eftekhari said. This discovery shows that the universe still holds many unsolved mysteries.

With technology continuing to advance, who knows, we may soon find the answer to the dead galaxy radio signal puzzle!