“The dominating theory is that quick radio bursts(FRBs)originate from magnetars formed through core-collapse supernovae,”stated Northwestern University astronomer Tarraneh Eftekhari.

“That does not seem the case here. While young, enormous stars end their lives as core-collapse supernovae, we do not see any proof of young stars in this galaxy.”

“Thanks to this brand-new discovery, a photo is emerging that reveals not all FRBs originate from young stars.”

“Maybe there is a subpopulation of FRBs that are related to older systems.”

“This brand-new FRB reveals us that simply when you believe you comprehend an astrophysical phenomenon, deep space reverses and surprises us,” included Northwestern University astronomer Wen-fai Fong.

“This ‘discussion’ with deep space is what makes our field of time-domain astronomy so exceptionally exhilarating.”

FRB 20240209A was found in February 2024 by the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME).

Flaring and vanishing within milliseconds, FRBs are quick, effective radio blasts that create more energy in one fast burst than our sun releases in a whole year.

FRB 20240209A flared up more than as soon as– in between the preliminary burst in February through July 2024, the very same source produced another 21 pulses.

After the group identified the FRB’s position, the astronomers rushed to utilize telescopes at the W.M. Keck and Gemini observatories to check out the occasion’s surrounding environment.

Rather of discovering a young galaxy, these observations remarkably exposed that the FRB came from at the edge of an 11.3-billion-year-old surrounding galaxy, situated 2 billion light-years from Earth.

To find out more about this uncommon host galaxy, the scientists utilized high-performance computer systems to run simulations.

They discovered that the galaxy is incredibly luminescent and exceptionally enormous– 100 billion times the mass of our Sun.

“It appears to be the most enormous FRB host galaxy to date. It’s amongst a few of the most huge galaxies out there,” Dr. Eftekhari stated.

While a lot of FRBs come from well within their galaxies, the authors traced FRB 20240209A to the borders of its home– 130,000 light-years from the galaxy’s center where couple of other stars exist.

“Among the FRB population, this FRB lies the outermost from the center of its host galaxy,” stated Vishwangi Shah, a college student at McGill University.

“This is both unexpected and interesting, as FRBs are anticipated to come from inside galaxies, frequently in star-forming areas.”

“The place of this FRB up until now outside its host galaxy raises concerns regarding how such energetic occasions can happen in areas where no brand-new stars are forming.”

According to the group, FRB 20240209A most likely stemmed within a thick globular cluster.

Such clusters are guaranteeing websites for magnetars potentially formed through other systems and related to older stars, consisting of through the merger of 2 neutron stars or from a white dwarf collapsing under its own gravity.

“A globular cluster origin for this duplicating FRB is the most likely situation to discuss why this FRB lies outside its host galaxy,” Shah stated.

“We do not understand for a reality if there is a globular cluster present at the FRB position and have actually sent a proposition to utilize the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope for follow-up observations of the FRB place.”

“If yes, it would make this FRB just the 2nd FRB understood to live in a globular cluster. If not, we would need to think about alternative unique situations for the FRB’s origin.”

“It’s clear that there’s still a great deal of interesting discovery area when it pertains to FRBs, which their environments might hold the secret to opening their tricks,” Dr. Eftekhari stated.

_____

T. Eftekhari et al2025. The Massive and Quiescent Elliptical Host Galaxy of the Repeating Fast Radio Burst FRB 20240209A. ApJLin press; arXiv: 2410.23336

Vishwangi Shah et al2025. A Repeating Fast Radio Burst Source in the Outskirts of a Quiescent Galaxy. ApJL 979, L21; doi: 10.3847/ 2041-8213/ ad9ddc