Researchers have identified what they believe to be the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) ever detected, according to findings published in Science. The burst, designated FRB 20240304B, originated approximately 10 billion years ago when the universe was merely 3 billion years old, meaning the signal traversed roughly 80 percent of cosmic history before arriving at Earth. This discovery more than doubles the previous distance record for detected FRBs.
Fast radio bursts are intense pulses of radio waves capable of releasing as much energy in milliseconds as the sun produces over months or years. These phenomena were first identified in 2007 and have remained poorly understood, though some have speculated about potentially exotic origins. Scientists detected this particular burst using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, then employed NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to identify the source galaxy.
The host galaxy appears to be young and relatively small, characterized by rapid star formation and minimal metal content. Dr. Themiya Nanayakkara of the University of Sydney, a lead researcher on the study, noted that when this burst originated, neither Earth nor the sun existed. Multiple theories attempt to explain FRB sources, including magnetars—neutron stars possessing exceptionally powerful magnetic fields.
Since their initial discovery, astronomers have detected more than 10,000 FRBs. Some exhibit repetitive patterns, while others occur only once before disappearing from observation. Scientists indicate that mapping distant FRBs could enable them to identify previously unseen matter distributed throughout the universe. Prof. Matthew Bailes and other astrophysicists emphasized that FRBs provide fundamental methods for quantifying atomic content in the cosmos, as these signals are influenced by particles encountered during their journey through space. The discovery raises the possibility that FRBs were substantially more prevalent during the early universe.
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