An unusual signal came from the depths of space – what scientists discovered

Astronomers have for the first time recorded a radio signal directly linked to the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b, located 63.4 light-years from Earth. Researchers from Harvard and the University of Oregon, using the MeerKAT telescopes, detected fast repeating bursts with circular polarization. The signal is likely related to auroral activity on the planet, caused by a powerful magnetic field.

Astronomers have for the first time recorded a radio signal that could be directly linked to the exoplanet Beta Pictoris b, located 63.4 light-years from Earth. Researchers from Harvard University and the University of Oregon detected unusual radio emission during observations of the Beta Pictoris star system. The signal was recorded using the MeerKAT radio telescopes in South Africa; observations were conducted four times in 2025 and 2026. Scientists detected fast repeating bursts with strong circular polarization, as well as continuous radio emission in the range from 0.85 to 3.5 GHz. According to researchers, the signal source is related to auroral activity on the planet, arising from the interaction of charged particles with the atmosphere and magnetic field. Similar radio emission has been observed on planets in the Solar System and ultracool dwarf stars, but this is the first case for an exoplanet. Beta Pictoris b is of interest due to its presumed powerful magnetic field, which may be about a thousand times stronger than Earth's. One reason could be the planet's very fast rotation: it completes a full rotation on its axis in about 8-9 hours. Scientists emphasize that the detected signal is not evidence of extraterrestrial life, but rather indicates processes in the exoplanet's atmosphere and magnetosphere. In the future, specialists plan to apply a similar method to observe other exoplanets.