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New Cosmic Mystery: Unusual Object Sends Rhythmic Signals from Deep Space

Space

Business Honor
02 June, 2025

Signals from unknown space object challenge existing theories of dead star behavior.

Australian astronomers have found a peculiar space object, ASKAP J1832-0911, that emits intense radio and X-ray bursts every 44 minutes. This peculiar activity sparked global curiosity around the globe because it defies anything we've observed in space so far.

The object was found using identical X-ray radiation recorded by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and strong radio waves identified by the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP). The truly strange aspect of this discovery is that the object follows a consistent pattern—it "turns on" and transmits signals for approximately two minutes, then "turns off" and is silent for 44 minutes before repeating.

Unlike typical pulsars, which emit extremely quick signals that are only seconds or milliseconds long, ASKAP J1832-0911 is much slower. Scientists don't know what's producing this rhythm. Some suspect it might be a magnetar, an exceptionally magnetic dead star, or a binary white dwarf system. But to date, none of the theoretical explanations for the unusual pattern hold completely.

This is significant because it may indicate a new type of space object, referred to as long-period transients. These are extremely rare and poorly understood. The steady and strong pulses from ASKAP J1832-0911 go against our current understanding of how stars expire and what occurs afterward.

Scientists will continue to observe the sky, hoping to discover more objects of this kind. If others are discovered, it can give rise to new hypotheses in space science and help us solve some of the universe's greatest mysteries.