A dead galaxy, over 11 billion years old, has surprised astronomers with powerful radio bursts. Once thought to be lifeless, this discovery raises questions about the origins of such phenomena. Could the collision of dying stars be the answer?
By Milo Houston
Mysterious Signals from a “Dead” Galaxy
Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) have puzzled astronomers for years, with possible sources including neutron stars, white dwarfs, and black holes. However, a recent FRB, detected in February 2024 and named FRB 20240209A, has deepened the mystery. This signal originates from just outside a massive galaxy, 2 billion light-years away, thought to be dead and devoid of energy-producing stars.
With the galaxy estimated to be 11.3 billion years old, its stars should have burned out long ago, leaving no remnants capable of generating such intense energy bursts. “This is the first FRB localized near a dead galaxy, and it’s also the farthest from its host galaxy ever recorded,” said Vishwangi Shah, a doctoral researcher at McGill University.
Magnetars and Their Role in FRBs
Magnetars—neutron stars with extremely powerful magnetic fields—are considered the primary source of FRBs. These highly dense remnants form when massive stars collapse in supernovae. However, in a galaxy where star formation ended billions of years ago, the presence of magnetars challenges conventional theories.
Adding to the mystery, the FRB’s location near the edge of the galaxy is highly unusual. Magnetars typically form in active star-forming regions near galactic centers, not in outer edges where stellar activity has long ceased.
A Clue from White Dwarfs
A similar event, discovered in 2020, may offer a clue. In the ancient Messier 81 galaxy, two white dwarfs—the remnants of smaller stars—collided, potentially forming a magnetar. White dwarfs are compact stars that lack the mass to collapse into black holes or neutron stars but can still produce high-energy phenomena under certain conditions.
If two white dwarfs in this dead galaxy merged to form a magnetar, it could explain how an FRB occurred in such an unlikely environment. This theory expands the understanding of FRB origins beyond the typical young, active galaxies.
Expanding the Universe’s Mysteries
The detection of FRB 20240209A challenges long-held assumptions about the connection between star formation and radio bursts. It suggests that even “dead” galaxies may hold hidden dynamism capable of producing extreme events.
The discovery of an FRB originating near a dead galaxy pushes the boundaries of what we know about these mysterious phenomena. It highlights the possibility that even long-dormant regions of the universe can produce powerful cosmic events. This finding opens new avenues for research, challenging scientists to rethink how and where extreme energy bursts can occur.
Based on content from www.futurezone.at and own research.