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Scientists complete yearlong pulsar timing study after reviving dormant radio telescopes

A team of scientists from Rochester Institute of Technology and Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomiá completed a yearlong pulsar timing study using two upgraded radio telescopes in Argentina. The observations provided accurate bounds to gravitational waves, increasing the sensitivity of existing pulsar timing arrays.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateDec 21, 2020

Cosmic flashes come in all different sizes

Scientists have confirmed that magnetars, extreme stars with strong magnetic fields, generate fast radio bursts (FRBs). The discoveries were made using four European radio telescopes and provide new insights into the origins of FRBs. The research aims to pin down how these extreme stars create brief blasts of radiation.

SourceChalmers University of Technology·JournalNature Astronomy·DateNov 16, 2020

Signals from distant stars connect optical atomic clocks across Earth for the first time

Researchers have successfully connected two optical atomic clocks in Italy and Japan, separated by 8700 km, using radio telescopes observing distant stars. This achievement could provide a global infrastructure for high-precision timekeeping and unlock new possibilities for studying fundamental physics and general relativity.

Tracing the cosmic origin of complex organic molecules with their radiofrequency footprint

Researchers from Tokyo University of Science use a special approach to detect acetonitrile in a low-density region of the Sagittarius molecular cloud. They analyze radio wave absorption patterns to infer the presence of this complex organic molecule, shedding light on its distribution and potential role in the origin of life.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateAug 25, 2020

The rare molecule weighing in on the birth of planets

Astronomers have discovered a rare form of carbon monoxide in the dust and gas disc around a young star, revealing it to be much heavier than previously thought. This finding provides new insights into the formation of planets and challenges existing theories about planetary system formation.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateSep 12, 2019

Astronomers make history in a split second

In a world first, an Australian-led team of astronomers has determined the exact location of a powerful one-off burst of cosmic radio waves using CSIRO's ASKAP radio telescope in Western Australia. The galaxy from which the burst originated was imaged by three of the world's largest optical telescopes and published in the journal Science.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalScience·DateJun 27, 2019

The science and technology of FAST

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) has enabled groundbreaking discoveries in pulsar and neutral hydrogen observations. With its ultra-wideband capabilities, FAST allows for the study of rotating radio transients in greater detail than ever before.

Synchronized telescope dance puts limits on mysterious flashes in the sky

Astronomers have discovered that fast radio bursts, which are exceptionally bright flashes of energy coming from deep space, do not emit at low frequencies. The Murchison Widefield Array and Australian SKA Pathfinder telescopes were synchronized to observe the same point in the sky, allowing researchers to capture the same view and gai...

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 29, 2018

Cosmic whistle packs a surprisingly energetic punch

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) emit non-radio emission, challenging models and suggesting severe consequences for host galaxies. The discovery of FRB 131104's gamma-ray counterpart opens possibilities for detecting long-lived counterparts using X-ray, optical, and radio telescopes.

SourcePenn State·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateNov 10, 2016

Radio-burst discovery deepens astrophysics mystery

Scientists detect a split-second burst of radio waves from the Arecibo telescope, marking the first time such an event has been recorded using an instrument other than the Parkes radio telescope. The finding suggests that these mysterious pulses are truly of cosmic origin and may be caused by exotic astrophysical objects.

SourceMcGill University·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateJul 10, 2014

Astronomers find missing link pulsar

A team of astronomers has identified a pulsar that switches between emitting X-rays and radio waves, offering the first direct evidence of one kind of pulsar transforming into another. This phenomenon was observed in a small cluster of stars 18,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalNature·DateSep 25, 2013

Korean connection makes an 8,000-km telescope

Australians and Koreans have linked their radio telescopes for the first time, creating a gigantic telescope spanning over 8,000 km. The combined system has 100 times the resolving power of the Hubble Space Telescope, enabling scientists to study distant galaxies in unprecedented detail.

The diamond planet

Astronomers found a small, half-Jupiter-sized planet with a diameter of 60,000 kilometres orbiting an extremely dense pulsar, suggesting a unique formation process. The discovery reveals the possibility of a diamond-like structure in the planet's core due to its incredibly high density.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateAug 30, 2011

'The Dish' finds a 'diamond planet'

A team of astronomers using CSIRO's radio telescope discovered a small planet made of diamond orbiting an unusual star called PSR J1719-1438. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of binary systems and the formation of 'diamond planets', which are thought to be composed of crystalline material.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2011

Big step forward for SKA

The SKA radio telescope has successfully linked its antennas over long distances using an optical fibre network, a key step towards observing distant galaxies in greater detail. The experiment saw six telescopes working together to observe a quasar 7.5 billion light-years away, revealing new insights into the universe.

CSIRO 'hot rods' old telescope

CSIRO has upgraded a radio telescope at the University of Sydney, boosting its sensitivity and bandwidth to three times more than before. The upgrade demonstrates Australia's technological capabilities and will inform the design of the country's own ASKAP telescope.

CSIRO telescope spots mega-star cradle

Researchers have discovered a massive cloud of cosmic gas and dust collapsing in on itself, which could help solve the mystery of massive star formation. The CSIRO radio telescope detected two types of molecules indicative of collapse, suggesting the gas is falling at an incredibly high rate.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMay 2, 2010