Space Keeps Sending Mysterious Signals — Scientists Finally Know Why

Astronomers have spent years tracking powerful radio flashes that return every few minutes or hours—far slower than ordinary pulsars and difficult to explain with established models. Only around a dozen of these long-period radio transients have been identified.

A newly studied object, ASKAP J1745-5051, now provides the strongest explanation yet for at least part of this mysterious population. Radio, optical and X-ray observations reveal two stars interacting within an extraordinarily tight orbit.