A radio telescope set up in Canada was able to pick up a mysterious radio signal emanating from an unknown source across the universe at frequencies below 700 MHZ on July 25. The signal, known as Fast Radio Burst (FRB), lasted only a matter of milliseconds. The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) located in British Columbia received the signal now named FRB 180725A. FRB’s are milliseconds-long bursts of radio emissions. Researchers claim that this is the lowest frequency FRB ever recorded emitted from across the universe.

A decade ago, first such FRBs were tracked, and the CHIME was solely set up to catch such signals from the deep space from sources such as bursts from magnetars, exploding black holes and of course, highly advanced alien civilisations, if any. Scientists also believe that whatever produced the signal tends to be an extremely powerful extra-terrestial being. The FRB was detected by CHIME’s expansive, four 100-meter-long U-shaped cylinders.

The first FRB was reported by Duncan Lorimer and his research student David Narkevic in 2007, believed to be extragalactic. Since then, many such FRBs have been recorded with their origin usually outside the Milky Way. Christopher Conselice, a professor of astrophysics at the University of Nottingham told Daily Mail, this discovery could help to pave the way for a greater understanding of what causes FRBs.

CHIME is designed to be able to record signals sent when the universe was between six billion and 11 billion years old. FRB signals were first observed in the year 2001 with help of pulsar survey of the Magellanic Clouds but scientists and researchers didn’t mention them until 2007 in their studies and discoveries. With the help of high-end equipment and latest technology, it will be no surprise if human beings can discover aliens soon enough.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 03, 2018 11:58 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).