Asteroids Crashing into Neutron Stars Could Explain Mysterious Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs)

Fast radio bursts (FRBs), intense and brief radio wave pulses, may be caused by asteroid collisions with neutron stars. These collisions release immense energy due to the extreme gravitational and magnetic forces of neutron stars. While this model explains single FRBs, repeating FRBs may involve interactions with dense asteroid belts. Future observations and studies are required to validate these theories and uncover more about FRB origins.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs)—brief but powerful pulses of radio waves—might be triggered by asteroids colliding with neutron stars, recent research suggests. Neutron stars, the ultradense remnants of massive stars, possess immense gravitational and magnetic forces. When an asteroid impacts one, it releases a staggering amount of energy, enough to power humanity for 100 million years.

Unraveling FRB Energy Output

Discovered in 2007, FRBs emit as much energy in milliseconds as the Sun produces over several days. Though their origins remain unclear, over 50 theories have been proposed. Recent studies strengthen the idea that interstellar objects, such as asteroids or comets, striking neutron stars could produce these bursts.

Neutron Stars: The Ultimate Energy Engines

Neutron stars pack the Sun’s mass into a sphere just 12 miles wide. Their extreme gravity accelerates objects to unimaginable speeds before impact. For example, a marshmallow striking a neutron star could release energy equivalent to thousands of hydrogen bomb explosions. An asteroid roughly 0.6 miles wide could unleash energy millions of times greater than humanity’s yearly energy usage.

These impacts align with observed FRB characteristics, including their duration, energy, and occurrence rates. Although individual neutron star-asteroid collisions are rare—happening about once every 10 million years per star—the sheer number of neutron stars and interstellar objects across galaxies may account for the estimated 10,000 FRBs that occur daily.

Single vs. Repeating FRBs

While this model explains single FRBs, repeating FRBs—which can occur as frequently as twice per hour—pose a greater challenge. Some scientists hypothesize that repeating bursts might result from neutron stars interacting with dense asteroid belts, but this idea requires further investigation.

Future Research and Observations

To test these theories, researchers highlight the need for more data. Upcoming observational projects, such as CHIME, CHORD, and ASKAP, aim to trace FRBs back to their host galaxies, revealing the environments that produce them. Studying interstellar object distribution in galaxies could also clarify how often these collisions occur.

Though this theory may not account for all FRBs, it provides a compelling explanation for many, offering valuable insights into these mysterious cosmic signals and the extreme forces at play in our universe.