NEW DELHI: World-renowned astrophysicist Prof Duncan Lorimer, who led the discovery of the first Fast Radio Burst (FRB) as among the brightest and most mysterious radio pulses in the universe, said here on Monday that the “universe is expanding” and that with “new and improved telescopes coming up in the US and Canada, we can find out more deep mysteries of this universe”.A fast radio burst (FRB) is an intensely bright, millisecond-long flash of radio waves originating from deep space, often from billions of light-years away. These fleeting, high-energy events emit as much energy in a fraction of a second as the sun does over several weeks.The first FRB was discovered by Lorimer and his student David Narkevic in 2007 when they were looking through archival pulsar survey data, and it is, therefore, commonly referred to as the ‘Lorimer burst’.During a discussion on ‘The Brightest Pulses in the Universe’ at the PM Museum and Library (PMML), Nehru Planetarium here, Lorimer, a fellow of the Royal Society, and professor of physics and astronomy at West Virginia University, USA, lauded two Indian researchers and his colleagues— Shamil Chatterjee and Shriharsh Tendulkar — for playing significant roles in identifying the host galaxy and origin of repeating Fast Radio Bursts .Duncan Lorimer and his wife Maura McLaughlin had received the Shaw Prize, described as the “Nobel Prize of the East”, for helping discover FRBs.When TOI asked the astrophysicist of any possibility of aliens trying to contact humans from other parts of the universe through different radio frequencies, Lorimer said, “There is a possibility that some fractions of fast radio burst might have an unexpected phenomenon. If we dig deeper into the data as we get tens and thousands of signals, we might find some that are anonymous. There might be some components in future (with links to aliens). I might not have seen it directly till now.”On the divided opinion of scientists about the real characteristics of alleged interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS that had entered the Milky Way galaxy last year, Lorimer stayed away from the controversy, saying, “I did not follow that story, so I don’t have an opinion on it.”While interacting with students, Lorimer explained to them the origin and characteristics of neutron stars, deep holes and radio bursts from different galaxies.Highlighting the significance of the event, Ashwani Lohani, director, PMML, said: “It is a great privilege for PMML and Nehru Planetarium to host Prof. Duncan Lorimer. This interaction is a wonderful opportunity for students, young researchers, and the wider public to engage directly with a scientist whose work has transformed our understanding of the universe. Such events inspire curiosity, scientific temper and a deeper appreciation of India’s growing engagement with global science.”End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosTharoor Praises Parliamentary Panel Meet On India-EU, India-US Trade DealsCongress Moves No-Trust Motion Against Om Birla; Lamborghini CCTV Contradicts Tobacco Tycoon’s Claim‘Not To Get Involved In Political Game’: EU Launches Mission For Bangladesh 2026 PollsNo-Confidence Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Explained: Process, Rules And Numbers In ParliamentDays Before Bangladesh Elections, Another Hindu Businessman Killed, Fears Rise Over Minority SafetyOpposition targets LS Speaker with no-confidence motion — rules, process & numbers – ExplainedPakistan Admits US-Backed Jihad In Afghan Wars A Mistake, But Still Accuses India Of Proxy War”That Day Will Never Come…” Yogi Adityanath Fires Warning At Those Dreaming Of Babri StructureOpposition Cites ‘Abuse Of Office’ In No-Confidence Move Against Lok Sabha Speaker Om BirlaKanpur Lamborghini Crash: CCTV Backs Police Claim As Lawyer Pushes Driver Defence In Court123PhotostoriesFactory making 1800+ liters of milk daily with detergent and urea fertilizer busted in Gujarat: 6 smart ways to check milk purity at homePromise Day special: Bollywood stories where words turn into lifelong vows8 easy buttermilk dishes to add in lunch menu5 succulents that bring you good luck and prosperityFive unforgettable true romance stories that re-wrote love on the big screen: ‘The Vow,’ ‘The Theory of Everything’ and more8 traditional Indian dishes among 50 Best Stews in the WorldTop 5 real estate hotspots in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in 2026 for investment in propertyNelson Mandela once said, “I never lose, I either win or learn”: 4 lessons it teaches studentsJimin to Suga: BTS’ airport style wins again as the group heads back to Korea8 Most iconic Goddess Durga temples in India and the story behind them123Hot PicksUAE Public School RegistrationGold Silver PricesParliament Budget SessionGCC Unified Visa 2026Income Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingSam DarnoldAndy ReidSuper BowlMen Hockey Olympics 2026Brock NelsonSidney CrosbyTerence CrawfordNBA Trade RumorsBen OgdenKevin Durant
NEW DELHI: World-renowned astrophysicist Prof Duncan Lorimer, who led the discovery of the first Fast Radio Burst (FRB) as among the brightest and most mysterious radio pulses in the universe, said here on Monday that the “universe is expanding” and that with “new and improved telescopes coming up in the US and Canada, we can find out more deep mysteries of this universe”.A fast radio burst (FRB) is an intensely bright, millisecond-long flash of radio waves originating from deep space, often from billions of light-years away. These fleeting, high-energy events emit as much energy in a fraction of a second as the sun does over several weeks.The first FRB was discovered by Lorimer and his student David Narkevic in 2007 when they were looking through archival pulsar survey data, and it is, therefore, commonly referred to as the ‘Lorimer burst’.During a discussion on ‘The Brightest Pulses in the Universe’ at the PM Museum and Library (PMML), Nehru Planetarium here, Lorimer, a fellow of the Royal Society, and professor of physics and astronomy at West Virginia University, USA, lauded two Indian researchers and his colleagues— Shamil Chatterjee and Shriharsh Tendulkar — for playing significant roles in identifying the host galaxy and origin of repeating Fast Radio Bursts .Duncan Lorimer and his wife Maura McLaughlin had received the Shaw Prize, described as the “Nobel Prize of the East”, for helping discover FRBs.When TOI asked the astrophysicist of any possibility of aliens trying to contact humans from other parts of the universe through different radio frequencies, Lorimer said, “There is a possibility that some fractions of fast radio burst might have an unexpected phenomenon. If we dig deeper into the data as we get tens and thousands of signals, we might find some that are anonymous. There might be some components in future (with links to aliens). I might not have seen it directly till now.”On the divided opinion of scientists about the real characteristics of alleged interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS that had entered the Milky Way galaxy last year, Lorimer stayed away from the controversy, saying, “I did not follow that story, so I don’t have an opinion on it.”While interacting with students, Lorimer explained to them the origin and characteristics of neutron stars, deep holes and radio bursts from different galaxies.Highlighting the significance of the event, Ashwani Lohani, director, PMML, said: “It is a great privilege for PMML and Nehru Planetarium to host Prof. Duncan Lorimer. This interaction is a wonderful opportunity for students, young researchers, and the wider public to engage directly with a scientist whose work has transformed our understanding of the universe. Such events inspire curiosity, scientific temper and a deeper appreciation of India’s growing engagement with global science.”
