Source: Science daily

An international team of astronomers has uncovered a strange celestial phenomenon—a never-before-seen object that emits powerful bursts of radio waves and X-rays in a slow, rhythmic pattern.

The discovery, led by researchers from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR), could reshape our understanding of extreme cosmic objects and even hint at new physics beyond current stellar models.

A Cosmic Mystery: ASKAP J1832-0911

The object, named ASKAP J1832-0911, was detected using Australia’s ASKAP radio telescope on Wajarri Country, operated by CSIRO (Australia’s national science agency). What makes it so unusual is its strange pulsing behavior:

• Emits intense radio and X-ray bursts for two minutes
• Repeats every 44 minutes—far slower than most known pulsars
• First-ever detection of a long-period transient (LPT) in X-rays

The discovery was partly a stroke of luck. While ASKAP scans vast swaths of the sky, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory happened to be observing the same region—revealing the object’s dual radio and X-ray emissions.

“This object is unlike anything we have seen before,” said lead author Dr. Ziteng (Andy) Wang from Curtin University (ICRAR). “Discovering that ASKAP J1832-0911 was emitting X-rays felt like finding a needle in a haystack,” Dr. Wang said.

What Could This Strange Object Be?

Astronomers have two leading theories—but neither fully explains the observations:

A Magnetar (Ultra-Magnetic Dead Star): These are neutron stars with insanely strong magnetic fields. They nnormally pulse in seconds, not 44-minute cycles

A Binary Star System with a Magnetic White Dwarf: One star could be a highly magnetized white dwarfBut no known binary systems behave this way

“This discovery could indicate a new type of physics or new models of stellar evolution,” Dr. Wang added.

Why This Discovery Matters

“Finding one such object hints at the existence of many more,” said co-author Prof. Nanda Rea (Institute of Space Science, Spain). This could be just the tip of the iceberg. ASKAP J1832-0911’s strange behavior suggests our universe still holds surprises that could fundamentally alter our understanding of cosmic objects and their life cycles.

1. It Challenges Our Understanding of Stellar Physics

This mysterious object defies current astrophysical models. Neither magnetars (ultra-magnetic dead stars) nor white dwarf binary systems fully explain its 44-minute pulse cycle – far slower than anything previously observed. This suggests:

• We may be seeing an entirely new class of cosmic object
• Current theories about stellar evolution may need revision
• There could be new physics at work in extreme cosmic environments

2. It Could Solve Multiple Cosmic Mysteries

The discovery provides crucial clues about other unexplained phenomena:

• May explain similar long-period radio signals detected across the universe
• Could shed light on fast radio bursts (FRBs) whose origins remain debated
• Helps interpret other “transient” objects that appear and disappear unpredictably

3. First-Ever X-ray Detection of Its Kind

This marks the first time a long-period transient (LPT) has been observed emitting in X-rays. This is significant because:

• X-rays reveal higher-energy processes than radio waves alone
• The dual emission provides twice as many clues to decipher its nature
• Sets a precedent for future multi-wavelength studies of LPTs

5. Opens New Avenues for Discovery

With about 10 similar objects now known, astronomers can:

• Systematically study their properties
• Develop new classification systems
• Possibly identify subcategories of LPTs
• Search for connections to other cosmic phenomena

6. Technological Implications

The discovery validates:

• The effectiveness of ASKAP’s wide-field survey approach
• The importance of coordinating different types of telescopes
• New data analysis techniques for finding rare, intermittent signals

What’s Next?

The study, published in Nature, involved researchers from: Australia (ICRAR, CSIRO, Curtin University), USA (NASA, Chandra team), Spain (ICE-CSIC, IEEC) A truly remarkable global collaboration behind this discovery.

Astronomers will now:
🔭 Search for more LPTs using combined radio and X-ray observations
📡 Test new theories about magnetars, white dwarfs, or even unknown cosmic objects