What are they? 

• Fast radio bursts (FRB) are extremely bright radio pulses from distant galaxies that last for only a few milliseconds.
• These brief and mysterious beacons have been spotted in various and distant parts of the universe, as well as in our own galaxy. 
• FRBs are extraordinary events that generate as much energy in a thousandth of a second as the Sun does in an entire year.
• Locating where these blasts are coming from, and in particular, what galaxies they originate from, is important in determining what kinds of astronomical events trigger such intense flashes of energy. 
• Nearly 1,000 FRBs have been identified since their first detection in 2007. However, their origins are unknown and their appearance is highly unpredictable.
• For this, studies are currently on gaseous matter and stars from the nearby galaxies hosting FRBs.

Key characteristics and features of Fast Radio Bursts:

1. Brief and Intense: FRBs are incredibly short-lived events, typically lasting only a few milliseconds. However, during their brief duration, they emit an enormous amount of energy, equivalent to the energy released by hundreds of millions of suns.
2. Radio Waves: FRBs are detected as transient radio signals in the electromagnetic spectrum. They are observed at various radio frequencies, ranging from a few hundred megahertz to several gigahertz.
3. Origin and Distance: The exact origin and nature of FRBs are still not fully understood. However, they are believed to originate from distant extragalactic sources located billions of light-years away from Earth.
4. Dispersion Measure: One of the most intriguing properties of FRBs is the dispersion measure. As the radio waves from an FRB travel through interstellar space, they encounter free electrons that cause the waves to disperse, with lower-frequency waves arriving slightly later than higher-frequency waves. The dispersion measure helps scientists estimate the distance to the FRB source and provides clues about the intervening medium.
5. Repeating and Non-Repeating FRBs: Some FRBs have been observed to repeat, emitting multiple bursts over time, while others have been observed only once. Repeating FRBs offer scientists the opportunity to study them in more detail and investigate their origins.
6. Astrophysical Origin: The exact astrophysical mechanisms that generate FRBs are still a topic of active research and debate. Several hypotheses have been proposed, including neutron star mergers, magnetars (highly magnetized neutron stars), and other cataclysmic events in the universe. Pinpointing the exact source of FRBs remains a significant challenge.

Detection and Observatories: FRBs are detected using radio telescopes, which are equipped with sensitive receivers capable of capturing and analyzing the radio wave signals