Telescope listens to early universe

Australian scientists have captured a radio signal emitted before Earth's solar system was born, revealing a previously unknown galaxy 5 billion light years away, media reported on Monday.

Using a groundbreaking radio telescope in remote Western Australia, the scientists identified a wisp of cosmic radio waves coming from galaxy PKS B1740-517 in the direction of the southern constellation "Ara".

Astronomers are excited about the discovery because the 5-billion-year-old signal shows Australia's new Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder project's 36 dishes will be able to detect galaxies other telescopes cannot.