A team of international astronomers has identified what researchers believe to be the most distant fast radio burst (FRB) on record, according to findings published in the journal Science. The burst, designated FRB 20240304B, originated approximately 10 billion years ago when the universe was roughly 3 billion years old, having traveled through what amounts to 80 percent of cosmic history before arriving at Earth.
The detection was made possible through observations from the MeerKAT radio telescope located in South Africa, with follow-up identification of the burst’s host galaxy conducted using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Data from JWST revealed that the burst emanated from a young, compact galaxy experiencing rapid star formation with minimal metallic content. According to Dr. Themiya Nanayakkara of the University of Sydney, one of the lead researchers, the conditions during the burst’s emission were vastly different from today, with neither Earth nor the sun yet in existence.
FRBs are intense pulses of radio energy capable of releasing in milliseconds the amount of energy the sun produces over months or years. Since their initial discovery in 2007, over 10,000 such bursts have been detected, though their origin remains unclear. Proposed theories suggest sources ranging from magnetars—neutron stars with extraordinarily powerful magnetic fields—to other phenomena. Some FRBs repeat over extended periods, others show temporary recurrence before ceasing, and some appear as singular, unrepeated events.
The new discovery carries significant implications for cosmological research. Scientists can utilize FRBs as tools to measure matter distribution throughout the universe, as these bursts are affected by particles encountered during their journey across space. This capability enables researchers to quantify matter invisible to optical telescopes. Prof. Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University, among the original discoverers of FRBs, characterized the findings as demonstrating their fundamental value for universe exploration. The detection also suggests that such bursts may have been considerably more prevalent during the universe’s early history than previously understood.
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