Latest news with #Zieng(Andy)Wang
News18
31-05-2025
- Science
- News18
Mystery Space Object Firing X-Rays And Radio Flashes At Us Is 'Alien' To Scientists
Last Updated: Researchers suggest that ASKAP J1832-0911 is a dead star, though its exact type remains unknown and scientists are uncertain about the mechanisms behind these signals Scientists have identified a curious object in the Milky Way, around 15,000 light-years from Earth, exhibiting behaviour never seen before. Named ASKAP J1832-0911, this mysterious source is the first to emit both energetic X-rays and radio flashes, doing so continuously for two minutes every 44 minutes. ASKAP J1832-0911 was first discovered by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and falls under the category of 'long-period radio transients" (LPTs), which are known for emitting strong radio waves over extended periods of tens of minutes. According to NASA, these emissions last thousands of times longer than the typical pulses from pulsars, which are fast-spinning neutron stars. Curtin University researcher and team leader Zieng (Andy) Wang remarked, 'Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack. The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it. So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time." Since their discovery in 2022, LPTs have been known as cosmic bodies that produce radio pulses at intervals ranging from minutes to hours. Astronomers have identified around 10 such objects, but ASKAP J1832-0911 stands out as truly unique. With the help of Chandra, researchers have found that ASKAP J1832-0911 emits X-rays at regular intervals of 44 minutes, making it the first long-period radio transient observed to show such behaviour. Scientists remain uncertain about the mechanisms behind these signals and why LPTs switch between active and inactive phases at both predictable and unpredictable intervals. (With agency inputs) First Published: May 31, 2025, 23:10 IST
Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Scientists baffled by unknown space object that emits X-ray and radio waves every 44 minutes
Scientists have discovered a strange object in space, which they say behaves 'like no other seen before.' Located in the Milky Way, around 15,000 light years away from Earth, the mysterious object ASKAP J1832-0911 is sending pulses of radio waves and X-rays for two minutes straight every 44 minutes. First discovered by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, ASKAP J1832-0911 belongs to a class of objects called 'long period radio transients' (also known as LPT), which emit intense radio waves over tens of minutes. NASA says that these waves are thousands of times longer than the length of repeated variations seen in pulsars, which are rapidly spinning neutron stars. According to team leader and Curtin University researcher Zieng (Andy) Wang, 'Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack. The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it. So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time.' Discovered in 2022, LPTs are cosmic bodies that emit radio pulses every few minutes or hours. In the last few years, astronomers have come across 10 LPTs, but say that ASKAP J1832-0911 is unlike any other. Using Chandra, scientists have discovered that ASKAP J1832-0911 also emits 'regularly varying' X-rays every 44 minutes, making it the first long-period radio transient object to do so. As of now, there is no explanation as to how or why LPTs generate these signals and why they 'switch on' and 'switch off' at long, regular and irregular intervals. However, researchers believe that ASKAP J1832-0911 is a dead star, but don't know what type it is. Some say that it could be a magnetar, which is the core of a dead star, while others assume that it could be a pair of stars where one of the two is a highly magnetised dwarf.
NDTV
30-05-2025
- Science
- NDTV
Astronomers Baffled By Mysterious Object Emitting X-Rays And Radio Waves In Milky Way
Astronomers have stumbled upon a perplexing celestial enigma within our very own Milky Way galaxy. An international team of researchers has reported the discovery of a peculiar object exhibiting a unique behaviour: emitting X-rays in sync with bursts of radio waves, all in a repeating cycle of approximately 44 minutes. According to the study published in the journal Nature, this unprecedented observation has led scientists to classify the object as unlike any known entity within our galaxy. Located 15,000 light-years away in a star-rich region of the Milky Way, this enigmatic object, dubbed ASKAP J1832-0911, could potentially be a highly magnetised remnant of a dead star, such as a neutron star or white dwarf. However, the possibility of it being an entirely new and exotic phenomenon remains on the table. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA Chandra X-ray Observatory (@nasachandraxray) "This object is unlike anything we have seen before," team leader and Curtin University researcher Zieng (Andy) Wang said in a statement. The serendipitous discovery occurred during a routine observation of a supernova remnant by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. Researchers were taken aback when they detected X-ray emissions emanating from the same source as previously observed long-period radio transients, which are rare objects that cycle through radio signals over extended periods. The correlation between the X-ray and radio wave emissions, coupled with other unusual characteristics, has deepened the mystery surrounding ASKAP J1832-0911. The object's hyperactive phase, during which it emits noticeable X-rays, appears to last for about a month, followed by a period of quiescence. This intermittent behavior suggests that similar objects might be lurking undetected in other parts of the galaxy, waiting to be discovered. While astronomers have pinpointed the object's location, its association with the nearby supernova remnant remains uncertain due to the vast distances involved. Further investigations are underway to unravel the true nature of ASKAP J1832-0911 and to explore the possibility of uncovering more of these enigmatic objects scattered across the cosmos.
Scientific American
29-05-2025
- Science
- Scientific American
Astronomers Discover Mysterious Object Bursting with X-Rays
3 min read A celestial object some 15,000 light-years away is emitting bright flashes of radio and X-rays that scientists are struggling to explain By & One of the strangest cosmic objects ever seen just got even weirder — NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope caught it blasting out X-ray radiation and radio waves. The mystery object, known as ASKAP J1832- 0911, is located within the Milky Way about 15,000 light-years away from Earth. It's now known to flash in both radio waves and X-rays for a two-minute period every 44 minutes. This is the first time an object like this, a so-called "long-period transient" or "LPT," has been seen in high-energy X-ray light as well as low-energy radio wave light. The team behind this discovery hopes the finding could help reveal what these flashing objects actually are and how they launch their mystery signals. On supporting science journalism If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today. However, not only is there no explanation for how the signals from LPTs are generated yet, but astronomers also don't know why these signals "switch on" and "switch off" at long, regular and unusual intervals. "This object is unlike anything we have seen before," team leader and Curtin University researcher Zieng (Andy) Wang said in a statement. Chandra gets lucky. Star doesn't. LPTs are flashing cosmic bodies that emit radio pulses separated by a few minutes or a few hours. They were first discovered in 2022, making them a very recent discovery. Since this initial detection, astronomers from around the globe have discovered a further 10 LPTs. None seem to be quite like this one, though — not yet anyway. ASKAP J1832- 0911 was first spotted by astronomers using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope in Wajarri Country, Australia. The team then followed this initial LPT discovery in radio waves with further investigation using NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope, shockingly finding that its highly periodic and unusual radio emissions are mimicked in X-rays. In fact, catching ASKAP J1832- 0911 throwing its regular X-ray tantrum was a matter of good fortune. "Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack," Wang said. "The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it. So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time." The team believes the true nature of ASKAP J1832-0911 is a dead star, they just don't quite know what form that star takes. A highly magnetic neutron star, or " magnetar," is one option, and a a white dwarf — the kind of stellar remnant the sun will leave behind when it dies in over 5 billion years — is another. 'ASKAP J1831- 0911 could be a magnetar, the core of a dead star with powerful magnetic fields, or it could be a pair of stars in a binary system where one of the two is a highly magnetized white dwarf, a low-mass star at the end of its evolution," Wang said. "However, even those theories do not fully explain what we are observing. "This discovery could indicate a new type of physics or new models of stellar evolution." The hope is the discovery that at least one LPT emits X-rays in the same way it does radio waves could help shed light on the mysterious origins of these objects. That's because the fact that X-rays are so much more energetic than radio waves are means whatever the object behind ASKAP J1832- 0911 is, it must be able to produce both types of radiation. That should narrow down the field of suspects — and, there should be more LPTs out there acting just like this one, the study team reasons. "Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more," Nanda Rea, study team member and a researcher at the Institute of Space Science (ICE-CSIC) and Catalan Institute for Space studies (IEEC), said in the statement. "The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature." The team's research was published on Wednesday (May 28) in the journal Nature.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Astronomers discover mystery cosmic body bursting with X-rays: 'This object is unlike anything we have seen before'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. One of the strangest cosmic objects ever seen just got even weirder — NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope caught it blasting out X-ray radiation and radio waves. The mystery object, known as ASKAP J1832- 0911, is located within the Milky Way about 15,000 light-years away from Earth. It's now known to flash in both radio waves and X-rays for a two-minute period every 44 minutes. This is the first time an object like this, a so-called "long-period transient" or "LPT," has been seen in high-energy X-ray light as well as low-energy radio wave light. The team behind this discovery hopes the finding could help reveal what these flashing objects actually are and how they launch their mystery signals. However, not only is there no explanation for how the signals from LPTs are generated yet, but astronomers also don't know why these signals "switch on" and "switch off" at long, regular and unusual intervals. "This object is unlike anything we have seen before," team leader and Curtin University researcher Zieng (Andy) Wang said in a statement. LPTs are flashing cosmic bodies that emit radio pulses separated by a few minutes or a few hours. They were first discovered in 2022, making them a very recent discovery. Since this initial detection, astronomers from around the globe have discovered a further 10 seem to be quite like this one, though — not yet J1832- 0911 was first spotted by astronomers using the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope in Wajarri Country, Australia. The team then followed this initial LPT discovery in radio waves with further investigation using NASA's Chandra X-ray telescope, shockingly finding that its highly periodic and unusual radio emissions are mimicked in X-rays. In fact, catching ASKAP J1832- 0911 throwing its regular X-ray tantrum was a matter of good fortune. "Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack," Wang said. "The ASKAP radio telescope has a wide field view of the night sky, while Chandra observes only a fraction of it. So, it was fortunate that Chandra observed the same area of the night sky at the same time." The team believes the true nature of ASKAP J1832-0911 is a dead star, they just don't quite know what form that star takes. A highly magnetic neutron star, or "magnetar," is one option, and a a white dwarf — the kind of stellar remnant the sun will leave behind when it dies in over 5 billion years — is another. 'ASKAP J1831- 0911 could be a magnetar, the core of a dead star with powerful magnetic fields, or it could be a pair of stars in a binary system where one of the two is a highly magnetized white dwarf, a low-mass star at the end of its evolution," Wang said. "However, even those theories do not fully explain what we are observing. "This discovery could indicate a new type of physics or new models of stellar evolution." Related stories: — This astronomer found a sneaky extra star in James Webb Space Telescope data — Hubble Telescope sees wandering black hole slurping up stellar spaghetti — Giant young star is growing by 2 Jupiter masses every year, new study shows The hope is the discovery that at least one LPT emits X-rays in the same way it does radio waves could help shed light on the mysterious origins of these objects. That's because the fact that X-rays are so much more energetic than radio waves are means whatever the object behind ASKAP J1832- 0911 is, it must be able to produce both types of radiation. That should narrow down the field of suspects — and, there should be more LPTs out there acting just like this one, the study team reasons. "Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more," Nanda Rea, study team member and a researcher at the Institute of Space Science (ICE-CSIC) and Catalan Institute for Space studies (IEEC), said in the statement. "The discovery of its transient X-ray emission opens fresh insights into their mysterious nature." The team's research was published on Wednesday (May 28) in the journal Nature.
