What are Fast Radio Bursts?

Last month, a consortium of five dozen astronomers reported the discovery of eight new bursts that may lead to an answer. The objects were found with the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment, or CHIME. This unusual-looking radio telescope, about the size of a football field, consists of four metal mesh cylinders — like skateboard half-pipes — that collect and focus incoming radio waves. CHIME is in a sparsely populated, mountainous region of British Columbia about 30 miles north of the U.S. border.

[Donedidthat]

Constructive Criticism: This would be much easier for the masses to understand if past tense was used when describing great distances. The event happened when the object was at such location so many years ago, but we do not know where the object is today or if it even exists. We don't even know were that point in space was located at that, or this, time since space itself is expanding. We don't even know if the rate of expansion is constant, increasing, or variable. Also, explaining that the amount of energy released, in a fraction of a second, was greater than any civilization could ever harness would help with some of the comments.

[raahilahbibi]

I still don't know what the Fast Radio Burst is...

[carlg]

The fact that FRB's repeat is a bit of a giveaway.

[trentp]

I swear, an alien could wipe his *** and send it to us, and scientists would try to explain it off.

[MrJdsenior]

"Laying awake all night"..."You're not going to find those ghosts in the attic"..."and I know many of you are" Funny!

Also, if that scope behind you on that back wall is looking for a free loving home, I have one. ;-)

[davidlnfante]

They are universes popping into existence

[Hecatonicosachoron]

Gamma-ray bursts are my favourites though

[samuelpope]

Is it possible for a neutron star's magnetic field to have something like a pole reversal? I have heard that often times their magnetic poles are at significantly different angle from spin axis. I'm not a scientist but I was wondering if some kind of magnetic instability in a neutron star could be the cause of FRBs.

[petermartijnheite-bauwens]

I saw a lot of FRB's. Some once and at different places in the sky. Some blink a couple of times and not only last year also this year at the same spot it occured from last year. and they look even brighter than last year. what could it be? a neutron star or a nova. We dont know (yet) but everything is changing fast so we will be seeing exciting new things. Maybe ET. My opinion is that we are not alone so could it be.... lets explore!

[cjannise]

The time shifts of eternalism could be the answer. We are receiving just a snippet of the total signal being sent because our now slice overlaps the point of origins now slice in that instant.

[PhotonicallyProjectedAtoms]

These are other planets discharging their planets to control the electrical current flowing through the planet

[SpaceMike]

Of all the people who don't pronounce human with a H you are my favourite :)

[jimferry]

Probably a stupid question but if the universe is only 14bn years old how can something be 1000bn light years away? I thought a light year was 1?

[lisaali]

Just wasting time using tax payers money