China's gigantic telescope detects new fast radio burst from space

GUIYANG -- Chinese scientists have detected a new fast radio burst (FRB) from elsewhere in the universe with the help of the world's largest radio telescope.

FRBs are mysterious radio flashes lasting only a few thousandths of a second that were confirmed in 2016 to originate from the cosmos. There is still no explanation for their origins.

Using the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST), located in southwest China's Guizhou Province, a local research team found the faint radio signal, namely FRB 20200317A, after an analysis of the massive survey data of FAST, and reported the discovery in late September to the international astronomical community through the Astronomer's Telegram.

Multiple national outlets reposted the news this week, highlighting that the discoverers are from a local key laboratory of information and computing science under the Guizhou Normal University. Previous findings were mainly done by National Astronomical Observatories, the operator of the mega-science facility.

FAST is the world's largest single-dish radio telescope, with a reception area equal to 30 standard football fields. Sited in a naturally deep and round karst depression, it officially began operating on Jan. 11, 2020.

Since then, it has embarked on the FRB detection and captured the first four non-repeating FRBs in 2020.

According to scientists, more FRB discoveries could provide insights into a wide range of astrophysical problems.