FRBs are highly energetic burst of radio waves that last just a few milliseconds. Origin of these FRBs is still not known to scientists. As these FRBs are short-lived and are often only identified in satellite data after the signal was recorded. Finding their place of origin and their source has been largely a mystery.
For the first time ever astronomers have detected fast radio bursts (FRBs), emanating from our own Milky Way galaxy. Astronomers believe that these deep-space radio signals came from a Milky Way magnetar called SGR 1935+2154. Located about 30,000 light-years away, it is a type of neutron star with an extremely strong magnetic field.
On 28th April 2020, the dead star suddenly lit up, sending out enormous millisecond-long burst of bright radio waves. According to astronomers, this blip was so intense that it could’ve been detectable from another galaxy.
Caltech astronomer Shrinivas Kulkarni said, “Something like this has never been seen before,”
Some astronomers consider the signal may have originated as a result of shifting gravitational forces causing starquakes, supernovae or magnetar flare.
Scientists believe this detection of a radio burst might help in revealing the origin of a bigger cosmological phenomenon.
