Scientists have identified what they believe to be the farthest fast radio burst (FRB) detected to date, with findings published in Science. The burst, designated FRB 20240304B, originated approximately 10 billion years ago when the universe was roughly 3 billion years old, meaning the radio waves traveled through about 80% of cosmic history before reaching Earth.
The discovery was made using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, with follow-up observations conducted through NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to identify the burst’s host galaxy. Researchers found that the signal originated from a young, small galaxy 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 the burst was generated, neither Earth nor the Sun existed.
Fast radio bursts are intense pulses of radio energy capable of releasing as much power in milliseconds as the Sun produces over months or years. Since their discovery in 2007, more than 10,000 FRBs have been detected. Some bursts repeat continuously, others repeat for periods before ceasing, and some occur only once. The origin mechanism remains under investigation, with theories including magnetars—neutron stars with extremely powerful magnetic fields—as potential sources.
The detection provides insights into the early universe’s composition and structure. Scientists can use FRBs to measure invisible matter between distant galaxies, as the radiation is affected by particles encountered during its journey. Prof. Matthew Bailes of Swinburne University, one of the FRB discoverers, described the findings as validation of FRBs’ utility for universe exploration. The research suggests that fast radio bursts may have been considerably more prevalent during the universe’s early epochs.
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