'Radio sources' are objects in
outer space that emit strong
radio waves. Radio emission comes from hot
gas,
electrons spiralling in
magnetic fields and specific wavelengths emitted by
atoms and
molecules in space.
In 1932, radio
astronomer, Karl Jansky detected
radio waves coming from an unknown source in the centre of our
galaxy. Other strong 'radio sources' have been the remains of a
supernova explosion in the Crab Nebula and
pulsars. Short
radio waves have come from complex
molecules in dense clouds of
gas where
stars are giving birth. Searches have been taken to find out if there are other civilizations in our
galaxy using
radio waves, but have had no successes.
There are many sources of
radio waves beyond our
galaxy, most of which are found in other galaxies. A few examples include
neutral hydrogen and
carbon monoxide, mostly found in
spiral galaxies, and
quasars (short for "quasi-stellar radio source"), which are point-like sources of radio waves and other kinds of
electromagnetic radiation that are thought to be powered by
supermassive black holes in the centers of
elliptical galaxies. Scientists have also discovered weak
background radiation left over from the
Big Bang (the rapid expanion, roughly 13.7 billion years ago, that was the beginning of our
universe).