Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are one of the most fascinating cosmic mysteries of modern astronomy. These are extremely brief but powerful flashes of radio waves originating from distant galaxies, lasting only a few milliseconds. Despite their short duration, each FRB can release as much energy as the Sun emits in several days. Scientists are still uncovering their exact causes — possibilities include neutron stars, magnetars, or even exotic astrophysical phenomena.The Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME), located in British Columbia, has been at the forefront of FRB research. Originally designed to map hydrogen in the early universe, CHIME has become one of the world’s most productive FRB detection instruments. Its wide field of view and continuous sky monitoring allow it to detect hundreds of FRBs each year. CHIME’s discoveries have significantly advanced our understanding of how these bursts behave, where they come from, and how they travel through space.Through CHIME’s continuous monitoring, astronomers have identified repeating FRBs, revealing that some cosmic sources emit multiple bursts. This discovery has opened new research pathways into the extreme physical conditions surrounding these objects. The data collected by CHIME is now vital for studying the intergalactic medium and testing theories about the universe’s structure and evolution.
This document has been prepared by our team member Trishit, Team MacroEdTech.
