this post was submitted on 14 Mar 2025
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Mysterious radio pulses from the Milky Way ‘are unlike anything we knew before’ (edition.cnn.com)
submitted 15 hours ago by StraponStratos@lemmy.sdf.org to c/world@quokk.au
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Over the past decade, scientists have detected a puzzling phenomenon: radio pulses coming from within our Milky Way galaxy that would pulse every two hours, like a cosmic heartbeat. The long radio blasts, which lasted between 30 and 90 seconds, appeared to come from the direction of the Ursa Major constellation, where the Big Dipper is located.

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[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 41 points 15 hours ago (6 children)

Not aliens 🙁

Now, astronomers have zeroed in on the surprising origin of the unusual radio pulses: a dead star, called a white dwarf, that is closely orbiting a small, cool red dwarf star. Red dwarfs are the most common type of star in the cosmos.

The two stars, known collectively as ILTJ1101, are orbiting each other so closely that their magnetic fields interact, emitting what’s known as a long period radio transient, or an LPT. Previously, long radio bursts were only traced to neutron stars, the dense remnants left after a colossal stellar explosion.

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

Bummer. Aliens would have been perfect for my 2025 bingo card.

[–] FreeRangeMustard@lemm.ee 9 points 14 hours ago (3 children)

And not the good ones like ET. We talking Predators and Independence Day.

[–] natedog526@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Predator aliens would at least be better than the aliens from Independence day. As long as you don't present yourself as a threat and they aren't actively hunting you, they will leave you alone.

[–] FreeRangeMustard@lemm.ee 4 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

What if I want to call em „Daddy“?

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 3 points 14 hours ago

Isn't "Mommy" more appropriate? I mean, whatever makes y'all happy, though. I applaud your healthy relationship, should you manage to establish one.

[–] Yawweee877h444@lemmy.world 2 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

We kinda deserve it though.

[–] thefartographer@lemm.ee 0 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

I disagree that we deserve it, since that's just some random third party. What we'll deserve is being enslaved and demolished by them after they win sweeping elections because everyone wanted to give something new a try and some bullshit about aliens already running the government and media in a totally-not-antisemitic-dog-whistle.

[–] classic@fedia.io 2 points 14 hours ago

I agree with either of you. Looks like we've got a win-win here

[–] SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Now if you're thinking that it would solve all our problems cause humanity would unite against the common threat, I think you'd get a disappointing, pessimistic but pretty realistic wake up call.

[–] classic@fedia.io 4 points 14 hours ago

I think most people are past the phase of uniting against a common threat and more in the "can someone just stop us, already? Because we are a shitshow" phase

[–] secret_agent@lemmy.myserv.one 6 points 15 hours ago

Aaaaawww maaaaannnnn.... :((

[–] sp3tr4l@lemmy.zip 4 points 14 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

I think it is interesting that when pulsars (rapidly spinning neutron stars) were first discovered, a fairly serious competing explanation (before more data was gathered) was that they could be something like interstellar lighthouses.

Now... they are not artifically constructed... but, if somebody actually was in a situation like Adama finds himself in, in the BSG revamp... they could actually serve that purpose, given that they have pretty stable, intense and specific pulse frequencies... if you could find even a few you recognized, you might at least be able to broadly traingulate and figure out where the hell you are.

Either way, neat to find out there are even more ways nature can unintentionally produce a reasonably reliable clock.

[–] MudMan@fedia.io 4 points 14 hours ago

It's never aliens.

It's always clickbait.

[–] lath@lemmy.world 4 points 14 hours ago

Just the Big Dipper teabagging, as always...

[–] rickyrigatoni@lemm.ee 3 points 14 hours ago

That's still pretty cool. Wish I had an alien gf tho.

[–] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 2 points 12 hours ago

78 years ago: Roswell Crash

March, 2025: "Scientists Hear Stars Fart"

👍

[–] IndiBrony@lemmy.world 1 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago)

Can't wait until we start deciphering these noises and reversing them like we're trying to listen through noise cancelling headphones.

Then, the only noise we get to hear are millions of alien worlds full of intelligent life all screaming out in anguish; hoping, clinging on to the idea that someone, anyone will reply to them so they know they're not alone in the universe. Signals from dying worlds, praying to the stars that someone out there can save them from the inevitable march towards extinction.

There's a sci-fi story in there, right?