Astronomers using CSIROÂ’s Parkes telescope have detected a huge burst of radio energy from the distant universe that could open up a new field in astrophysics.

The research team, led by Assistant Professor Duncan Lorimer of West Virginia University, reported its discovery today in the online journal Science Express.

The radio burst appears to have originated at least 1500 million light-years [500 Mpc] away but was startlingly strong [30 Jy].

Link to Science Express article:
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/1147532

Link to CSIRO media release:
http://www.csiro.au/news/EnergyBurst.html

More information.