A team of astronomers and astrophysicists affiliated with several institutions in Australia has found that a mysterious fast radio burst (FRB) detected last year originated not from a distant source, but from one circling the planet—a long-dead satellite. The team has posted a paper outlining their findings on the arXiv preprint server.
  • BakerBagel
    4·
    2 days ago

    The research team does not believe the satellite suddenly came back to life for a moment. They suggest it is far more likely that an electrostatic charge built up on the craft and reached a certain point and then discharged. Such discharges have been seen before, the team notes. Another possibility is that the craft was struck by a micrometeoroid, releasing a very small cloud of plasma.

    • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
      21·
      2 days ago

      not reading it was not due to my laziness, it is just i couldn’t make the joke otherwise. i don’t have a habit of forcefully promoting other people to a position of my assistant. but thank you anyway ;)