Most distant known fast radio burst traced to its host galaxy

The cosmic burst originated in a galaxy that existed 3 billion years after the Big Bang.

Senior Space Correspondent

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Distant galaxy home to most distant fast radio burst AI illustrationhow this picture was made

SYDNEY, Australia, Oct. 12, 2026 - Astronomers have traced the most distant fast radio burst ever detected, FRB 20240304B, to a small, distant galaxy using the James Webb Space Telescope.^[1] South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope detected the burst on 4 March 2024.^[2] When ground-based telescopes could not find its source, a team led by Manisha Caleb and Themiya Nanayakkara of the University of Sydney turned to Webb.^[3] Webb placed the host galaxy at a time roughly 3 billion years after the Big Bang.^[4] Space Nugget. Fast radio bursts are flashes of radio waves lasting a few thousandths of a second that can release as much energy as the Sun puts out in days. Most come from far beyond our galaxy, and their exact sources are still debated; magnetars, highly magnetised neutron stars, are a leading candidate.

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What this stands on

Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to locate FRB 20240304B in a small distant galaxy. · Universe Today
South Africa's MeerKAT radio telescope detected the fast radio burst FRB 20240304B on March 4, 2024. · Mashable
Manisha Caleb and Themiya Nanayakkara of the University of Sydney led the team that turned to NASA's James Webb Space Telescope after failing to find the origin with ground-based telescopes. · Mashable
The James Webb Space Telescope traced FRB 20240304B, the most distant fast radio burst ever detected, back to a host galaxy existing roughly 3 billion years after the Big Bang. · Mashable

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