Fast radio splashes (FRB) last only a fraction of a second and are very powerful flashes of radiation, which can only be seen using radio telescopes. At the same time, as much energy is released in a fraction of a second as several hundred millions of suns are produced. Astronomers believe that FRBs arise from changes in the magnetic field of magnetars, that is, neutron stars with the strongest magnetic fields in the Universe. But fast radio bursts are still a big mystery. The new discovery, described in a study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, came as a big surprise to astronomers.. It turned out that FRB can arise where no one expected, writes Sciencealert.

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Most of the quick radio splashes arise outside the Milky Way, but those few discovered in our galaxy made it possible to find out that their source is neutron stars, in particular Magnetara. Neutron stars arise after massive regular stars die and explode in supernovae.. Neutron stars have a diameter mainly up to 20 km and are one of the most dense objects in the universe. Focus has already written that scientists were able to prove that the source of FRBs are neutron stars with the strongest magnetic field in the Universe.

Astronomers know that some FRBs appear more than once, but several times, and such bursts of powerful radiation are called repeating fast radio bursts.. One of these phenomena, called FRB 20240209A, was first discovered in February last year. Astronomers were observed 21 times before June, which made it possible to carefully study this FRB.

Astronomers made several unexpected discoveries at once. It turned out that this FRB arose in a very ancient galaxy at a distance of 2 billion light years from us. But usually fast radio bursts occur in the center of the galaxy, where a larger star is formed, which means there are more neutron stars.. But FRB 20240209A appeared on the outskirts of the galaxy.

According to scientists, this galaxy is more than 11 billion years old, which means that the process of star formation ended a long time ago.. The fact that this FRB originated in an old and essentially dead galaxy means that the neutron star that created the burst of powerful radiation is also very old.

It is assumed that FRB arises on very young magnetars. But because neutron stars cannot create new heat, they cool and become inactive over time.. Therefore, astronomers should not have seen how the old neutron star creates a quick radio. But this discovery shows that this is possible.

On the other hand, the study authors believe that this FRB could not have appeared on the edge of an ancient galaxy, but in a very dense globular star cluster that orbits it. This galaxy is too far from us so that we can say exactly whether this. But it is known that star mergers often occur in globular star clusters. Therefore, FRB 20240209A could have arisen as a result of the merger of two magnetars.

In order to completely deal with the mysterious FRB 20240209A, astronomers need to carry out additional observations, but now it is clear that the astrophysical processes that create FRB are more diverse than expected.

As Focus already wrote, astronomers have discovered trillions of comets in other star systems. The so -called planetosimal zones are filled with tiny particles the size of a millimeter created by the clashes of comets.

Focus also wrote that one of the most visible young stars in the Milky Way will disappear from view for about 100 years. At the same time, this event will allow you to learn more about the history of the solar system.