A Mysterious Cosmic Signal: Object in space emits strange radio waves

2023-07-21 19:01:03

A cosmic enigma has captured the attention of astronomers around the world. A strange radio signal coming from a point 15,000 light-years away has left scientists baffled. Known as GPM J1839-10, this peculiar cosmic object flashes radio waves every 22 minutes, an astonishingly slow rate compared to other pulsating sources.

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What makes it even more surprising is that scientists have discovered that this radio signal has been detected for more than 30 years, challenging our current understanding of these stellar phenomena. Researchers led by astrophysicist Natasha Hurley-Walker of the International Center for Radio Astronomy Research in Australia suggest that the most likely explanation is that this object is an incredibly slow-spinning magnetar.

Magnetars are neutron stars with an extremely powerful magnetic field, but the strength of this field is related to its period of rotation. What makes GPM J1839-10 so intriguing is that its rotation period is too slow to generate the radio waves we are observing. “Assuming it is a magnetar, it should not be possible for this object to produce radio waves. But we are seeing them. And we’re not just talking about a small radio emission problem. Every 22 minutes, it emits a five-minute pulse of radio-wavelength energy, and has been doing so for at least 33 years. Whatever mechanism is behind this is extraordinary,” Hurley-Walker explained.

Representation of a Magnetar

This discovery has led scientists to question our current theories about neutron stars and magnetars, which are already extremely exotic and extreme objects in the universe. The existence of GPM J1839-10 raises fascinating questions about celestial phenomena that we do not yet fully understand.

Although more research will be needed to unravel the mystery behind this cosmic signal, scientists are excited by the possibility that this unique object could reveal new insights about the cosmos and challenge what we thought we knew about the universe and its hidden wonders.