A repeating radio signal from the depths of space has left scientists baffled, as its source remains elusive. The prevailing theory, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that the signal originates from a type of neutron star known as a pulsar, which emits radio waves while rotating. However, this hypothesis leads to further enigmas. The object, named ASKAP J1935+2148, would be the slowest spinning neutron star on record, with a 54-minute interval between signals.
This rotation rate is so sluggish that it challenges the realm of possibility, joining a growing roster of stellar remnants that elude conventional understanding. "Discovering a neutron star candidate that emits radio pulsations like this is highly unusual," stated Manisha Caleb, the study's lead author from the University of Sydney Institute for Astronomy. "The leisurely repetition of the signal is quite remarkable."
