Scientists have detected the most powerful fast radio burst ever observed. The signal came from a galaxy called NGC 4141 in the constellation Ursa Major, about 130 million light years away, which is considered very close in space terms.
The burst, which lasted just a few milliseconds, released as much energy as our Sun produces in four full days. Researchers captured it on March 16, 2025, using the CHIME radio telescope in Canada along with its new “Outrigger” stations. These instruments allowed astronomers to pinpoint the source of the burst with great accuracy.
Further observations with the James Webb Space Telescope gave an even clearer look at the region of the galaxy where the burst came from. Astronomers believe it may have originated near a star-forming area inside one of the galaxy’s spiral arms.
Fast radio bursts, or FRBs, are mysterious flashes of radio energy from deep space. They have puzzled scientists since their discovery in 2007. This record-breaking event is important because its brightness, closeness, and precise location give scientists the best chance yet to understand what causes them.