In the town of Parkes, Australia, staff at a radio telescope have finally identified the source of mysterious signals that have been interfering with observations for over 17 years. The signals, known as “perytons,” were first described in 1998.
Initially, scientists believed they might be related to atmospheric phenomena, particularly lightning strikes. However, a new detector specifically designed to capture interference has revealed that the signal frequency is 2.4 GHz, typical of microwave ovens, reports The Guardian.
A series of experiments confirmed that perytons occur only when observatory staff open the door of the microwave oven in the kitchen to check the food’s readiness.
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Man-made interference is a major problem for astronomical observations, which is why telescopes and radio telescopes are typically built far from large population centers and industrial facilities.
According to Simon Johnston, head of the Parkes observatory, 50 years ago when the radio telescope was built, it was one of the quietest (in terms of radio clarity) locations in Australia, but since then Wi-Fi networks, mobile phones, and FM radio have significantly hindered observations.
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