# How do burst sources come to be in old star clusters and dead galaxies? · Fast radio bursts and the origin of the one-off bursts > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMC4A44GR/how-do-burst-sources-come-to-be-in-old-star-clusters-and Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:23+00:00 --- **0** # How do burst sources come to be in old star clusters and dead galaxies? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What produces most of the one-off fast radio bursts?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMB5213XT/what-produces-most-of-the-one-off-fast-radio-bursts)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters Two repeaters sit in old stellar populations, where young magnetars should not exist⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM2VE02T4/a-repeating-fast-radio-burst-source-in-a-globular-cluster)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM51R7G8W/the-massive-and-quiescent-elliptical-host-galaxy-of-the). ## Answers 3 [**Luminous X-ray binaries.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/answers/ANS0CVCMND603XR/luminous-x-ray-binaries) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**Magnetars formed by mergers of neutron stars or white dwarfs, or by accretion-induced collapse of a white…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/answers/ANS0CVCMMXJ4KG0/magnetars-formed-by-mergers-of-neutron-stars-or-white-dwarfs) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/answers/ANS0CVCMNN00XXH/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2022[Kirsten et al. puts forward: magnetars formed by mergers of neutron stars or white dwarfs, or by accretion-induced collapse of a white…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM2VE02T4/a-repeating-fast-radio-burst-source-in-a-globular-cluster) 1. 2025[Eftekhari et al. puts forward: luminous X-ray binaries.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM51R7G8W/the-massive-and-quiescent-elliptical-host-galaxy-of-the) 1. 2025[Eftekhari et al.: fRB 20240209A has a large offset and a host like those of short gamma-ray bursts.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CVCM51R7G8W/the-massive-and-quiescent-elliptical-host-galaxy-of-the)For: Magnetars formed by mergers of neutron stars or white dwarfs, or by accretion-induced collapse of a white… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMC4A44GR/how-do-burst-sources-come-to-be-in-old-star-clusters-and%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMC4A44GR/how-do-burst-sources-come-to-be-in-old-star-clusters-and%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMC4A44GR/how-do-burst-sources-come-to-be-in-old-star-clusters-and%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMC4A44GR/how-do-burst-sources-come-to-be-in-old-star-clusters-and%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMC4A44GR/how-do-burst-sources-come-to-be-in-old-star-clusters-and%23add-source) Where it fits Fast radio bursts and the origin of the one-off bursts [**What produces most of the one-off fast radio bursts?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMB5213XT/what-produces-most-of-the-one-off-fast-radio-bursts)Key question · most likely magnetars or other neutron stars formed late, by mergers of neutron stars or white dwarfs or by the collapse… **How do burst sources come to be in old star clusters and dead galaxies?** You're here · 3 answers, inconclusive [Is the radio emission made in the neutron star's magnetosphere or in shocks far from it?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/fast-radio-bursts/questions/QST0CVCMBCW2KQH/is-the-radio-emission-made-in-the-neutron-stars)Most likely · coherent emission within or just beyond a neutron-star magnetosphere [ Ask a question under this one ]