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Researchers discover rare star system that emits radio signals every 8 minutes

Researchers discover rare star system that emits radio signals every 8 minutes

giuliomagnifico

Comments (54)

  • dekhn
    I don't think the title is really accurate- it doesn't emit radio signals every 8 minutes, it emits constantly, but emits along an axis that periodically aligns with our viewing cone.
  • rq1
    “long-period transients“What wait, 8mn is a long period?I checked the fastest pulsar observed rotates and “emits” at 716Hz! :shock:That’s ~70.000km/s on the equator given its ~30km diameter :shock: :shock:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PSR_J1748%E2%88%922446ad
  • Kuyawa
    Why would you send signals at a fixed interval? That would instantly label you as a natural phenomena instead of organic intentMake it random, at least receivers would have a harder time identifying intentions
  • cartan
    Nuke them before it's too late!
  • stronglikedan
    If this thing has been sending repeating signals for what I presume to be a very long time, shouldn't we have already detected it? Or is it that we've always been able to detect this particular signal, but have only just now traced it to its source?
  • throwaway81523
    Pulsars are usually faster than that I guess.
  • itintheory
    Sounds like the OnOff star from A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge. It started with very quick oscillation and eventually settled toward 200 years off, 60 years on (or so). Interesting speculation about what this would do to a developing species/society.
  • teeray
    A light shining in the dark forest...
  • ocastx
    We are on our way, Carol!
  • martijnvds
    The signal? "Replace smoke alarm battery"
  • 1970-01-01
    All I got from this is pulsars aren't long period transient stars "because that's why".Seriously, if data doesn't fit the classical definition, you need to update the classical definition.
  • xqcgrek2
  • metalman
    I didn't know that there was a whole slew of these red and white dwarfs orbiting other stars, which I think must make it extra unlikely for there to be habitable planets in the same system, the process of one star capturing another is going to realy wreck havock with any original planets, and any surviving lifeform to get past the am radio phase of technological developmentthats! GPM J071507−114153, "the pulse on your dial" brought to by astrophyisal phenominon, every 8 min, for eterinty
  • vegnus
    Radio... Live transmission?
  • whalesalad
    so... a pulsar?