A MYSTERY SOLVED?
The detection of an FRB in our galaxy has led astronomers to conclude such bursts involve a magnetar
At long last, astronomers can now say with great certainty that fast radio bursts, or FRBs, have a magnetar as their source. It had long been theorised that these dead magnetic stars – spinning remnants resulting from the explosion of a massive star – were a potential source. But only now, with the discovery of FRB 200428, has there been firm evidence for such a theory. Being able to place this FRB in the same area of sky as magnetar SGR 1935+2154 was the breakthrough needed, particularly when an X-ray burst occurred simultaneously. Now astronomers will work to find out if magnetars are behind every FRB.