Recently, scientists have detected strange heartbeat signals. The signals are said to be coming from either a radio pulsar or magnetar, which are neutron stars.

Detection of strange heartbeat signal

Scientists at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) said that the signal is precise and they are emitted every fraction of a second, exactly like a heartbeat.

These signals are called FRB (Fast Radio Burst) which lasts for a few milliseconds. The researchers have named the signal FRB 20191221A and it is the longest-lasting FRB with a periodic pattern. The signals repeat for about 3 seconds like a heartbeat.

The source of the signal lies in a distant galaxy which is several billion light years from Earth. The source of the signal remains to be a mystery, scientists are trying to find more periodic signals from this source that could be used as an astrophysical clock. It is the first time that signals are periodic.

Fast Radio Burst (Heartbeat signals)

The first FRB was discovered in 2007. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) is a radio telescope and it detected a heartbeat-like signal in 2019.

CHIME has detected many FRBs with different properties. Some live inside clouds while some FRBs are found in clean environments.

Scientists hope to catch more heartbeat signals from FRB20191221A. It will help them as they study the universe and neutron stars.

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Watch a video

Watch this video of the heartbeat signal posted by Wonderworld on YouTube.

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