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A Milky Way flash implicates magnetars as a source of fast radio bursts

High-energy event nearby could help explain mystery signals from distant galaxies

illustration of a magnetar

A bright radio burst generated by a magnetar (one illustrated) in our galaxy hints that similar objects are responsible for at least some of the fast radio bursts in other galaxies, which have puzzled astronomers for over a decade.

L. Calçada/ESO

By Maria Temming

- More than 2 years ago

Astronomers think they’ve spotted the first example of a superbright blast of radio waves, called a fast radio burst, originating within the Milky Way.