For 17 years a mysterious radio signal has stumped astronomers ..
The source of strange radio signals that have left astronomers at Australia's most famous radio telescope scratching their heads for 17 years has finally been discovered. It turns out that it was a microwave oven.
Mysterious interference by signals called perytons was first detected in 1998 "within 5km" of the Parkes Observatory in New South Wales, according to Simon Johnston, head of astrophysics at the scientific research agency CSIRO.
Once or twice a year, researchers would notice an odd signal, which was initially thought to be caused by lightning strikes. However, earlier this year, a new receiver was installed at the observatory, which picked up strong signals at a frequency of 2.4GHz -- the same as a microwave oven.
Immediate testing of the oven failed to detect any perytons -- until they opened the microwave door a few seconds before it had finished cooking. Johnston told The Guardian: "If you set it to heat and pull it open to have a look, it generates interference."
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-05/05/microwave-parkes-observatory
I, for one, welcome our new microwave oven overlords.
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The SPT is examining Cosmic Microwave Background and Dark Matter. Photo taken on January 11, 2012. (National Science Foundation/John Mallon III)
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jaw and devoured a large live rat... 
