Mysterious radio signals from outer space detected

Mysterious repeated blasts of radio signals tracked from deep space have been detected by Canadian astronomers.

It’s only the second time scientists have detected such a consecutive radio burst, reports the BBC.

The highly unusual repeating signal was among 13 fast radio bursts – known as FRBs – and came from the same source, about 1.5 billion light years away.

It has been speculated that FRBs may be caused by exploding stars, magnetic fields or even alien transmissions. But their origins remain shrouded in deep mystery.

The flashes last only for a millisecond but they are ejected with the same level of energy the sun takes 12 months to produce.

From the new bursts detected by the Canadian astronomers, one repeated six times – apparently from the same location.

"Knowing that there is another suggests that there could be more out there," said Ingrid Stairs, an astrophysicist from the University of British Columbia (UBC).

"And with more repeaters and more sources available for study, we may be able to understand these cosmic puzzles - where they're from and what causes them."

The only other detected repeating FRB signal was picked up in November 2012.

Scientists believe there could be up to a thousand FRBs in the sky every day.