The explosions of radio activity and X-rays from a star with a very strong magnetic field could have given astronomers new clues to unravel the mystery of the "rapid radio explosion" signals from outer space.

The mysterious phenomena of FRBs have left astronomers in the dark since they were first discovered in 2007. Strange explosions can emit as much energy as 500 million suns, but they only last a few milliseconds and arrive without any warning.

And the common interpretation of the cool signs remains elusive. Because of its remarkable brightness, some experts believe it must be produced through incredibly powerful events.

The new observations found that the bursts of radio emission from a magnetic star - a neutron star with a very strong magnetic field - 16,700 light-years away are similar to the bursts discovered from a magnetic star inside our galaxy - known as SGR 1935 + 2154 - earlier this year.

The signals from the distant magnetar - named 1E 1547.0-5408 - fall outside the previous explanation for the rapid radio burst, so scientists had to expand the definition.

"The new discoveries in both SGR 1935 + 2154 and 1E 1547.0-5408 have changed the definition of FRB itself. The emerging scenario is a continuum of properties and energies of the radio impulse, to fill the gap," one of the researchers, Gianluca Israel, from the Astronomical Observatory of Rome, told ScienceAlert. The void between giant pulses in "regular" radio pulsars and fast "radio bursts".

Scientists hope their observations will finally help solve exactly what causes the strange astrophysical phenomena, about which remarkably little is still known.

"All the discoveries go in the same direction: they deepen our understanding of nature and the universe," Israel added.

The leading theory suggests that the explosions are caused by catastrophic events such as the collision of very dense bodies, such as black holes or neutron stars. However, others offered more bizarre explanations. One study even suggested that they might operate "solar sails" on a massive spacecraft.

Source: RT

By:Nadeemy Haded