Mysterious signal recorded buzzing from deep space every 2.9 hours
Astronomers have identified a highly unusual celestial object, named GLEAM-X J0704â37, that emits regular bursts of radio waves every 2.9 hours—the longest interval ever observed for this type of source. However, what makes GLEAM-X J0704â37 different is its long period and its optical counterpart: a cool, faint star of the M-dwarf type, smaller and less luminous than the Sun. Instead, researchers suggest that it might be part of a rare binary system, involving the M-dwarf star and a white dwarf—a dense, compact star left behind after a larger star exhausts its fuel. “The unique pairing of an M-dwarf star with a white dwarf could explain the unusual emissions, but more observations will be needed to confirm this.” This discovery opens new possibilities for studying magnetic field interactions and unusual stellar systems.
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