Since 2022, astronomers have been puzzling over a new kind of cosmic object called long-period radio transients. These are objects that emit bright flashes of radio waves into space every few minutes to every few hours. Some have been traced back to binary systems consisting of a small, dim, cool star called a red dwarf in orbit with a stellar remnant called a white dwarf.

In new research published in Nature Astronomy, we report the first discovery of a different source for one of these enigmatic intermittent broadcasters: It still involves a white dwarf, but also a star much like our own sun.