A fast radio burst, or FRB, is a pulse of radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation. It lasts a small fraction of a second but outshines most other sources of radio waves in the universe. Radio waves have the longest wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. "The radio waves in FRBs are similar to those used in microwave ovens. Fast radio bursts were discovered in 2007.

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Persons: Ryan Shannon, Stuart Ryder, Shannon, Will Dunham, Daniel Wallis Organizations: ESO, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Australian SKA Pathfinder, European Southern, Swinburne University of Technology, Macquarie University, Thomson Locations: Handout, Western Australia, European, Chile, Australia