One of the defining characteristics of the mysterious deep-space signals we call fast radio bursts is that they are unpredictable.
我們稱之為快速射電爆發的神秘深空信號的定義特徵之一是它們是不可預測的。
They belch out across the cosmos without rhyme or reason, with no discernible pattern, making them incredibly hard to study.
它們無緣無故地在宇宙中噴湧而出，沒有可辨別的模式，這使得研究它們非常困難。
Now, for the first time, astronomers have found a fast radio burst (FRB) that repeats on a regular cycle.
現在，天文學家第一次發現了一個定期重複的快速射電爆發(FRB)。
Every 16.35 days, the signal named FRB 180916.J0158+65 follows a similar pattern.
每16.35天，名為FRB 180916.J0158+65的信號遵循類似的模式。
For four days, it will spit out a burst or two every hour.
在四天的時間裡，它每小時會噴出一兩次噴發。
Then it falls silent for 12 days.
然後它沉默了12天。
Then the whole thing repeats.
然後整個事情重複。
Astronomers with the Canadian Hydrogen Intensity Mapping Experiment (CHIME) Collaboration in Canada observed this cycle for a total of 409 days.
天文學家與加拿大氫強度繪圖實驗(CHIME)在加拿大合作觀察了這個週期共409天。
We don't yet know what it means; but it could be another piece in the complicated conundrum of FRBs. The research has been uploaded to pre-print server arXiv, where it awaits scrutiny from other experts in the field.
我們還不知道這是什麼意思，但它可能是FRBs這個複雜難題中的又一塊。這項研究已經上傳到預打印服務器arXiv，等待該領域其他專家的審查。
It's easy to become somewhat obsessed with fast radio bursts, a fascinating space mystery that has so far defied any attempts at a comprehensive explanation.
人們很容易對快速無線電爆發有點著迷，這是一個令人著迷的太空之謎，到目前為止還無法進行任何全面的解釋。
To recap, FRBs are hugely energetic flares of radiation in the radio spectrum that last just a few milliseconds at most.
綜上所述，FRBs是無線電頻譜中極具能量的輻射耀斑，最多隻持續幾毫秒。
In that timeframe, they can discharge as much power as hundreds of millions of Suns.
在這個時間框架內，它們可以釋放與數億個太陽一樣多的能量。
Most of them spark once, and we have never detected them again.
它們中的大多數只有一次火花，我們再也沒有檢測到它們。
This makes it rather difficult to track these bursts down to a source galaxy.
這使得追蹤這些爆發到源星系相當困難。
Some FRBs spit out repeating radio flares, but wildly unpredictably.
一些FRBs發出重複的無線電耀斑，但卻出乎意料地難以預測。
These are easier to track to a galaxy, but so far, that hasn't brought us a great deal closer to an explanation.
這些更容易追蹤到銀河系，但到目前為止，這還沒有讓我們更接近一個解釋。
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