# China detects rare radio signal from distant star system

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-08 10:40 UTC · Category: Science

## Executive Summary
Chinese astronomers using the FAST telescope detected a narrowband radio signal from the K2-155 system 238 light-years away, but later found similar signals in other observations suggesting terrestrial interference.

## Intelligence Brief
Chinese researchers analyzing 2021 observations from the Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) detected a radio signal designated NBS 260108 that appeared to come from the K2-155 star system, approximately 238 light-years from Earth, according to WION and BGNES. The signal exhibited characteristics that scientists associate with artificial transmitters: an exceptionally narrow frequency range, a gradual frequency shift to lower frequencies, and detection in only one of the telescope's 19 beams — the one aimed at K2-155. The star system hosts three super-Earth planets, including K2-155d, which is nearly 1.6 times Earth's size, orbits every 40.7 days, and lies near the habitable zone where liquid water could exist. "This system's habitable-zone super-Earth made it an intriguing SETI [the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence] target," the authors wrote in their study published in The Astronomical Journal, as reported by WION.


However, further analysis complicated the initial excitement. BGNES reported that researchers identified similar radio signals during observations of three other stars, strengthening the possibility that the source was terrestrial radio interference or equipment belonging to the telescope itself. The team plans to examine additional recordings from all 19 beams to establish the signal's origin. WION noted the researchers acknowledged that "further improvements in technology are needed to verify whether this mysterious signal actually came from deep space, or was it a false alarm caused by human-made interference on Earth." For now, the observation has not been accepted as confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial technology.


Separately, a different discovery was published in Nature on the same day: a long-period radio transient named GPM J071507−114153 with a 7.9-minute period, identified as a binary system comprising a low-mass white dwarf and a G-type star similar to the Sun. This system, found using the Murchison Widefield Array, shows radio pulses modulated by a 1.3-day orbital period. The Nature paper concludes that in such white dwarf binaries, coherent radio emission depends on interaction with the companion star, which can be a G-type star in day-long orbits. This discovery is distinct from the FAST detection at K2-155.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Phys.org | A rare star system emits radio signals every 8 minutes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMickFVX3lxTE1YWmZqMEJOQTNENy1qZzMzVmIyUHhuQU9ISnBvX1ZnV21lOUNoa2dhWG9iOWNuN2NzbWVLZkptdVBCQWdGRFlvTEg1cnBUcnVHZkJXUjlDTGRmNnJuV1BBdnk2LVZXaW5NaF96TjRGZV9rZw?oc=5) |
| The Independent | Rare star system is emitting radio signals at 8-minute intervals, scientists announce. Here’s what it means | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikwFBVV95cUxPTnVoa0pvM050X0t6R0JyYWNuS29SMFo5ZWMzaEdEbE5OT0hYVGZySWtMWnpJaU9NcjB4eUd1SEZZM0lzNDN2dkFCZUJkaks0YzE5T29aOWM0a3NnaDJja0t3M1JiYmoxUkFYTkpGSTVWUTJOTmxWSWg0WFQxUmdCTEF0dkI4ZFFzNUk3OFczMGhqN00?oc=5) |
| New York Post | Scientists discover mysterious radio signals coming every eight minutes from deep space | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxOajAtNlVXc1lFYkFYbVZ6eU4zcjFWeUlBNWtLZ2VoNFBHbzlTVmhrRnpabE1vOUpZMWRkUHl0cWZHRXZ1TzFaX0NoSGJyQnFDWURvWENvRXp3OHNfcDk4NHVYWHlWMEQzenVkV095TmZQTmw4ZjFCVFdjUFNiWGY3ZC0zakxFbTJ5QWkyYlUzN1dFWFZTYnBMMllrMEJ3RjIzMkNMRGNwc1ZXRW5oQkFBak9hel8zd0ttMlh1aWxSNA?oc=5) |
| Curtin University | Researchers discover rare star system that emits radio signals every eight minutes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixwFBVV95cUxQZjgteUpGNVE0NERXLWtiV0kzNmdTcUlJbXhkT2VMNE85WXBkRTk3SXJSRDktX3BwUnpkV3NpdFV0MUdVT2poeUlnY1E1eURhN0lyUnBxLVppR1dXeU9hSzNxTmRMbHpqelJCU1FVd3lJcEtaMnBlT3gweTI0QnVKeUZuZ25lRUp1azEwaTNFcmRJTTNQYl9nekZ6Ni1RbXFjQm84T0M5TVVwMUtUek5SaF9Yc290aUZvNEpyTlhpV19sZHNJTmRB?oc=5) |
| Nature | A long-period transient with a Sun-like companion | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiX0FVX3lxTE1WLW1zeEZjaFpnMVJoc3Y5NGFsMXNrcERVSFFoa1pvYUFXaXQwTnZaa1A1QVd3NURuSUdrQ0lGbkhuR1R1d0JnZFlUMVdvQUR0TFRERk13T2ptYmFHRDA0?oc=5) |
| The Conversation | A dead star is flashing radio waves every 8 minutes, and its partner looks a lot like the Sun | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMixgFBVV95cUxPNFZOWkJWdDJEZzdsNjAzVncwYzgzOVFHTk5JcHQ2TWQtVi1mZVBJLWRyLWFOZDY2SlFnbjlCV2VvTHlIZmdISHFmOTBieWpoYnMyNzNLV0VIZmtjX0tzd056aUxHQnpTSW9WUVFSTk9MSTNlNDhpMU1BN0t5c1plZzQwQ2RWTDdBREE1VFZ4QXNNY3FTQk5TU0l3RmN2dWtDRThjNEVLSVVDY2hJZmY3eldUTDhHZDNaODJYMmtpMmZSQ0pDRlE?oc=5) |
| Gizmodo | Rare Star System Emits Radio Signals Every 8 Minutes | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivgFBVV95cUxPa3I0cUFncEpzZW1SdEVZX3RKaURoTXdCZE5rWEF6VmtkTlpsTW16OU5hUmJFby1YSG5tVFdxVlQ3RTFvTVdSWllqTUwtYVlrN3dTZWZGZU8xTHU3Uk9pWW1VcW05QkdnRmV2dkpBQmFzSEdYVV9PSXZVWk95ZHRaQTExUVZZd3d6cmJuSjVFWWl4M3NTb0RseXVHc1BQTGo2a0RRYzdMcU11ako0R0U0blB1X3B6OV90NXVjTVFB?oc=5) |
| BGNES | Chinese Astronomers Detect Mysterious Radio Signal From Star System 238 Light-Years Away | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiugFBVV95cUxPbFI2OUFFMmxTeXhVR1dIS3BZZndvbVVEMFdHd01fZ3Npemc1TUR1c1IwcEladnJRU29YQzV2eU16eFNUYTUwbElGNmM1eTJNUm5KZVJfN2Qzdm5URy1JX2JkRENQYWItWFlYS01hRVRxUEtiSjNVdVZmam4xTGJ4VUJNaS02YndRb3Y5ZVRfQ0w2b0E4UVZLbXp3QVNSVXNHajhXdktGYmpBbU9LTHJOUVlYN0M2MzNOQWc?oc=5) |
| Inshorts | Chinese scientists detect signal with possible signs of alien technology - The study came in The Astronomical Journal - Inshorts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitgFBVV95cUxPc2VwVFh2dWR4UXA1RFNFUnk3QWl0X2ktYk51d0lDb3p6eUVLVDJGZFJGSm92cmZMZlZnUnotN3BqZEhXblFORGdiWU41UnR4eTVXQUpaOUw1NTFDSHFTYTVCS2FaN0tZVVN3UjVqb3hiNDBxMGt5RVk3YWFSUXFYT3MwbF81S3ZWMEhLeUlfejE4OVBJbTlBN1M1U2NDRkNobXJvUWUwOWxVYXpjLXJLREgzc083d9IBuwFBVV95cUxObHRpdEdfWEkwTk96Qm53S1oyVWVncFp4RjUwWFM4d3FDZHZOQzl6S3ljblZjOF9pUGNJQVE1Z2NsamJGVVRyWkJjLXFUOWlVa3F5aVp3aFZteC1BU3NpcFdzcXU4bGM3Yk5JdDhYaVdYYldzQ2cwUkduU1czYmxTQTVPRHBtc1FYMUVGQ2FsWnNrWEVweTNhakxLOER) |
| Gazeta Express | Mysterious signal from space: Scientists detect unusual radio waves in search of extraterrestrial life | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi1AFBVV95cUxPVEFPRU9IU0lxVm5Ta0hfeHN3Q19iR3B2MFpJWm1qcl9wV3ozQkJlbEF1QWcxNlg0QkRySEZOVmFxRHdUWWtFUGxhc0pXTl93c1FPX2JLT1ZlNDFtQlJ3em1tVkF6aGJUVWRMc1lZMFg1bU51ZUVCWDhySjRxVmhZWXRDR0JzcTBiOVdGOS1MNEdIdUppNWxBYkg1WnJNSFJLTnJfa1lqc08xWVJ4NmtZUVNOZXdlMTQyZVhOSzRCUVE3SDhNYXlVUUdRb0pVZFZHZHRrdg?oc=5) |
| Vietnam.vn | Mysterious radio signals detected from a star system 238 light-years from Earth. | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxNeXUyYUxpc0IyaUVtZzFoQ0dFYUx3enc0QlhRNXJwNkM0aGF0VGZBM0dTU0s2bXlSbEhjVjZ5djA1TU1nZ1dzdk9LMFJRZDZ1ZXNmY3lCb0pkWGhjVXN0VjdCZUFMOUlYY3Q4Y25YVW4ycDNmMENWVDhjUS1DMFVTVDZzaWF3Vmk2VnNXZHdXM295QWxuRzdQa3JSUWxtLWd1NkE?oc=5) |
| WION | First handshake? Radio signal with all hallmarks of alien technology detected in China | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizAFBVV95cUxNZHQ0emdLeUJBV2RYTlRDWjlEdDlVMGc3V0RZRkdVRERHM3FpYkZTbExoc01EVTVPa3lKcmYzQXBPOS1XbnFSR0EzUGtVV2cwWGI5U2hrMlVDV3FDazdGT2ZLMkZjNjJhWnl5YUlmT0l0VC0zeGRZdE84enBTeEpXZVlCTDQxYjc1ZjkyUHpWaFlPTGFTSlB2NFVUNk9ETmtheHJacUd3NGo4QlhNVXJvdHppOWxDRlREQlFEdlVYNzJleUpIV25xUndQTkjSAdIBQVVfeXFMT2MyRFlPLWl2Q1M3Wjl2U0ROVnl5WU5mcE9xX2R4OGozYVh6clpJbnhmNFk4QTByVW5fekltX3IxLVNsTDhjVjQyYUlBWmdDUUdWTFNMRjdHMkRkMl9TTnRNNFpyaVFHZ2EyWkNVRDZjYm1LZFhOM2ZHOEsyU0NLcDY4U0NFZ1A) |
| Inshorts | Scientists say K2-155 radio signal is likely Earth interference - Tap to know more - Inshorts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxNVVJ4bmNoTEhjOXV6bGZkYzl5b1VpdkYtUFQzQnM5Qkh6ZndSTUlVS2VxV3E2TkMyV2d3VUFINU1qeDV6OFdXY3ZUNE5SR1dMZ2o4NU5RYXZhaHdObjVXVFBLbEtZd2tuYTYtNmVtS2xBald1ajRDZ2UzN3pfX2Q1a09QMXpTeDVUSXdMUUxXbWhVU3pYTHhiRXpQbHBaSjQ2U1o4T1NNVl9MZ9IBrwFBVV95cUxPNE5UaUZCRjU4Y25GcXZPMGVKZ1dQRk93TjJLVTViNEZsRDFidHhydnJkSjN6LU5VYzdnN0NVLU5NTnRIRmlEVURkMzhfM0xWLUhFU2ZRTUg4NDN6R2RTUmZSWDN0OGRtbm4teFZIdURsdnJyZjlhTGtzUDk2ckxpVUt2RGowWHdQVVV4RkNtV2o2Wk9URDYwY2FFc09WOUZYeU9WNGxYR2J) |
| Yahoo | China detects rare radio signal from distant star system | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMilAFBVV95cUxNS2tHazh1OVgzTU1tQzBnc3BCaUZZUFZfTlJ0bDVpdk5Ed0wyTWkwNG43TDRYVEFwX1cxbGZfTHBkbzhSNzJmX2h4ZktEUnc2Mk1zdDViSnhKdHA0ZUdWV3pJeV9Bd1ZyM3VFMmNRdFhwdGdETzFoTGxDNmc3UDNBX2d0VFplZC1oMEFQNWV6R3Z2dnBw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoaiapps.com/trend/2026-11-08/china-detects-rare-radio-signal-from-distant-star-system*