Bursting with Mysteries, FRBs. Welcome to our first themed episode of 2025. This month’s episode is everything to do with Fast Radio Bursts, or FRBs - their exciting discovery, mysterious origins and paving the way to using them as probes in space. This episode features double FRB interviews, with Dr Cherry Ng from CNRS Orleans giving an overview about these astrophysical mysteries, and Dr Ines Pastor Marazuela talking about her work here at Jodrell Bank to observe and understand the populations of FRBs we’ve found. But first, the news.

The News

SKA First Light

The first image from the international Square Kilometer Array Observatory’s telescope in Australia, SKA-Low, has been released! The image is of an area of sky of about 25 square degrees which is equivalent to approximately 100 full Moons. In this region there are about 85 visible galaxies, each hosting a supermassive black hole. We can see these as the gas orbiting around these black holes is very hot and moving quickly which causes it to emit energy in X-rays and radio waves, and the radio waves are what the SKA-low is looking for

But this is only the beginning! The telescope is still under construction and this image was taken using only 1024 of the 131,072 planned antennas. If all goes to plan construction should be completed in 2029, and it is already well on it’s way to becoming the largest low-frequency radio telescope within the next two year. The images from this observatory will transform radio astronomy and truly widen our eyes to the universe. When complete, In the same 25 square degree area of sky the telescope is expected to be sensitive enough to will able to see around 600,000 galaxies!

Interview with Dr Cherry Ng

For this interview, Barbara talks to Cherry Ng from CNRS Orleans in France about her work on Fast Radio Bursts, or FBRs. Cherry gives an overview of the field, the leading theories for the origin of these transients, and how they might be useful in helping us understand the early universe.

Jodbite with Dr Ines Pastor Marazuela

Inés chats to Louisa about her research at JBCA in FRBs, in particular understanding how to differentiate and understand both one-off and repeater FRBs. She talks of her research using different radio interferometers, such as MeerKAT and LOFAR, to investigate their properties as the mystery of FRBs continues... (cue 'sad trombone noise'!)

Feedback

This month, we received an email from Jodcast alumni, Stuart Howe, who was part of the team in the first few years of the podcast’s creation. He says:
‘Congratulations on restarting the Jodcast after a bit of a pandemic-forced break. Next January will be a staggering 20 years since the first episode. Are you doing anything special for that anniversary? Jod On!’

We certainly will! It would be amazing to celebrate what we’ve accomplished over the last 20 years, and the many voices who have shaped it. We welcome any suggestions from listeners about what they would like to hear to celebrate the occasion!

On Facebook, T K Arispe says:
‘Thanks so much for answering my silly Mercury question! Always happy to keep you guys on your toes with outlandish theories’

Faith Hawthorn, who featured on our episode last month, messaged to say:
‘Thanks so much, really enjoyed doing the interview for this!!’

On Facebook, Naeem Khan says:
‘Many thanks for answering my question. I feel you have definitely reduced entropy in my brain universe’

Via Email, Philip Le Riche says,
‘Hi Jodcasters - Keep up the good work! I've been an avid listener probably for at least 15 years. I love hearing you young researchers (it's very many years since I was at uni!) and your interviewees talking with passion about such fascinating subjects as astronomy and cosmology.’

And remember, if you want to get in touch you can do so via twitter, facebook, instagram, bluesky or send us post - links and details can be found on our website at www.jodcast.net

Until next time, Jod on!

Interview : Cherry Ng and Barbara Cabrales
Presenters : Nastassia Raffy and Phoebe Ryder
Jodbite : Ines Pastor Marazuela and Louisa Mason
Editors : Jamie Incley, Louisa Mason, Jordan Norris and Johnny Alphonse
Website : Lilia Correa Magnus & George Bendo
Producer : Jessy Marin
Cover Art : CREDIT:Credit:Daniëlle Futselaar for Nature Astronomy