Mysterious radio signals from billions of light-years away can now be detected in real time

A PhD student in Australia has developed an automated system to detect, in real time, mysterious radio pulses emanating from the deep universe. The fleeting signals known as fast radio bursts (FRBs) have baffled scientists since they were first discovered in 2007 by a team poring through archival data. Since then, there have been numerous other instances of their detection – though what exactly causes them remains a mystery. The latest breakthrough could be a huge leap forward for scientists' ability to understand the nature of fast radio bursts, allowing them to be captured in detail the moment they reach Earth. A PhD student in Australia has developed an automated system to detect, in real-time, mysterious radio pulses emanating from the deep universe.