Year in review: China's major scientific and infrastructure achievements

FAST telescope picks up 'mysterious radio burst' for first time

China's Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) has detected a repeating fast radio burst (FRB) — mysterious radio signals from outer space — for the first time. The FRB originated some three billion light years away from Earth, scientists on the FAST project revealed the news on Sept 4.

FRB is one of the hottest topics in astronomy. It was not until 2007 when the first FRB was discovered by humans. Fewer than 100 FRBs have been detected internationally to date.