🚨 Exciting New Science🚨
Could astronomers have finally found the key to solving one of the Universe's strangest mysteries?
In recent years, the emergence of a new class of objects known as Long-Period Transients (LPTs) has baffled radio astronomers. These bizarre objects emit powerful radio pulses every few minutes to hours - but their behaviour shouldn't really be possible according to our current understanding of how other objects, like pulsars, emit radio waves.
Now, a newly discovered white dwarf binary system may be providing the strongest clue yet. Some researchers are even describing it as a potential "Rosetta Stone" for understanding these mysterious objects.
I had a chat with PhD candidate Kovi Rose from the University of Sydney about this discovery, what makes this system so unusual, and how it could help unravel the mystery of LPTs.
Check out my latest feature article on #SpaceAustralia here: https://www.spaceaustralia.com/feature/new-long-period-transient-reveals-its-secrets
📸 Animation: C. Knox & J.P. Pritchard
#RadioAstronomy #astrodon #astrophysics #LongPeriodTransients