RRI develops tiny, credit card-sized computer to catch whispers from the early universe

An illustration of PRATUSH orbiting the Moon’s far side, sheltered from Earth and Sun light. (Image: RAMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE)

A palm-sized computer could soon allow us to hear the universe's earliest whispers. The PRATUSH mission aims to detect faint radio pulses from hydrogen atoms, giving us insights into how the very first stars sculpted the cosmos.

What is the PRATUSH mission?

PRATUSH is a conceptual space payload to orbit the far side of the Moon. This quiet region is shielded from Earth’s radio noise and ionospheric distortions. There, it aims to detect the elusive 21-centimetre hydrogen signal from the Cosmic Dawn.

At the system's core is a small single-board Raspberry Pi-based computer. The controller of this device handles the radiometer's antenna, analogue receiver and processing chip. It synchronises high-speed data acquisition, configures instruments and ensures seamless operation. All this is achieved within strict size, weight and power limits.

How sensitive is the receiver system?
Performance testing indicates the digital receiver achieves unprecedented sensitivity. By lowering noise levels to millikelvins, it can trace signals invisible to Earth-based instruments. Long observations, spanning hundreds of hours, enable it to capture extremely faint cosmic radio emissions.

Future upgrades and space-qualified hardware will raise precision and data integrity. This low-power approach drastically reduces mission complexity, making lunar orbit operations more practical. Researchers think PRATUSH will allow them to see how the very first stars drove cosmic evolution. It could even discover new physics beyond current models.

By hearing from the Moon's shielded orbit, PRATUSH would be able to provide unparalleled insights into the Cosmic Dawn. A tiny computer may thus lead one of humanity’s most ambitious quests: uncovering the birth cries of the universe.