Astronomers just detected a strange and powerful radio signal burst from the edge of the universe however, the origin and cause of this space radio signal is still unknown. Now, this latest Fast Radio Burst can reveal much about their origin that has eluded scientists for the longest time.

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The first FRB signal was detected in 2006 by the Parkes Observatory in Australia where there are only 16 signals ever detected including this new one, FRB 110523. These cosmic bursts are so elusive that they only last for milliseconds or a fraction of a second as the latest radio telescope technology can only scan a small region of the sky.

This new FRB 110523 signal has been detected by cosmologists from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, after analyzing 650 hours of data from the Green Bank Telescope, while producing a map of the universe.

According to lead researcher Kiyoshi Masuyi, this particular FRB is very different from the rest, as this signal possesses a polarization signature, which means it travelled across a heavy electromagnetic radioactive field and then blasting through a large plasma cloud before being detected by ground telescopes.

According to Jay Lockman from the NRAO, this FRB detected by the Green Bank Telescope is definitely unique as this sheds light about the environment where FRBs can occur and their origins.

Masui says that they still do not have a clear idea where they are coming from and how they are caused, however, they believe that these are not man made signals. They also add that these radio signals are not coming from our galaxy, which means they are extra galactic. 

Using a "smearing" technique or dispersion delay, astronomers were also able to obtain the range how far this FRB travelled, estimating at at least 6 billion light years, which is half the age of the universe and not less than 100 million light years, according to Masui.

National Radio Astronomy Observatory scientists believe that the place of origin of these radio signals could come from a supernova, a spinning neutron star or even a massive collision of black holes.

Tagsfrb, fast radio bursts, Radio signals, radio signals from deep space, green bank telescope, parkes observatory australia, FRB signal, FRB 110523, NRAO