From Ray Vickers, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
As a radio-communication engineer, I am surprised at the choice of the term “fast radio burst” (FRB) for the mysterious bursts of radio-frequency energy detected in space (27 October, p 8). Surely these emissions travel at the same speed as any other electromagnetic energy?
Better terms would be: brief radio burst (BRB) or short radio burst (SRB.) An appropriate adjective starting with “F” would preserve the acronym, but a quick – or, better, a brief – search found nothing suitable.
