Beta Pictoris b exoplanet radio signal detected for the first time

Astronomers have recorded the first stable and repeating radio signal originating directly from an exoplanet, Beta Pictoris b. Located approximately 63 light-years from Earth, the massive gas giant is part of a dynamic planetary system that has long been a subject of scientific interest.

The breakthrough was achieved using the MeerKAT radio telescope array in South Africa. A research team, including scientists from Harvard University, analyzed data collected through May 2026. By using distant quasars as fixed reference points, researchers were able to distinguish the planet's radio emissions from the intense radiation of its host star.

While the signal does not originate from intelligent life, scientists state the discovery marks a new era in astrophysics, providing a novel tool for studying distant worlds and the characteristics of planetary atmospheres.