Astronomers discover mysterious pulsing object that may be new class of star

[Judi Lynn]

Experts say object is a match for predicted class of neutron star with ultra-powerful magnetic field

Hannah Devlin Science correspondent
@hannahdev
Wed 26 Jan 2022 11.00



Artist's impression of the object, which scientists believe could be a neutron star.
Hannah Devlin Science correspondent
@hannahdev
Wed 26 Jan 2022 11.00 EST

Astronomers have discovered a mysterious object emitting a radio wave beam that pulsed every 20 minutes.

The team behind the discovery believe the object could be a new class of slowly rotating neutron star with an ultra-powerful magnetic field. The repeating signals were detected during the first three months of 2018, but then disappeared, suggesting they were linked to a dramatic, one-off event, such as a starquake.

“It was kind of spooky for an astronomer because there’s nothing known in the sky that does that,” said Natasha Hurley-Walker, from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, who led the team that made the discovery.

Despite the unusual nature of the signal, the team believe the source is likely to be a spinning object rather than a technologically advanced civilisation reaching out across the cosmos.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/26/astronomers-discover-mysterious-pulsing-object-new-class-of-star

[Sancho]

1. It's aliens...

[2naSalit]

3. What else could it be?

[Sancho]

4. Every few months there is a report of a new radio/energy source....

....and it's usually explained as a new kind of quasar/black hole/neutron star. One of these days it will probably be aliens.



We live in exciting times.

[Chainfire]

2. Its alive, its alive!

There is a hell of a lot more that we don't know than we do know.