Astronomers have discovered a mysterious source of signals in space
arXiv (2026). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2603.07857
Astronomers have detected a strange source of radio signals in space. It emits pulses about every 36 minutes, but what exactly creates them is still unknown.
The object was named ASKAP J1424 and was detected using an Australian radio telescope.
The main feature is its regular signals:
- one pulse about every 36 minutes
- a steady rhythm for a few days
- then the source goes silent
At the same time, the object has no visible analogue - it could not be detected either in the optical or infrared range.
Details
Scientists are considering several versions:
- unusual neutron star
- magnetic white dwarf
- a binary star system
But none of the hypotheses fully explains the observations so far.
Why it's important
Such objects are a new and understudied category of cosmic sources.
They may help us understand
- how extreme magnetic fields work
- what other processes are going on in the Universe
- whether there are unknown types of objects
So far, ASKAP J1424 remains a mystery. Scientists plan to continue observations to understand the nature of these strange signals.
Source
The study is published on the arXiv preprint server.