How Can I Effectively Convey The Nuances Of Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) To A General Audience, Specifically The Distinction Between The Burst's Intrinsic Millisecond-scale Duration And The Scattering-induced Broadening That Occurs As The Signal Travels Through The Interstellar Medium, Without Resorting To Overly Technical Jargon Or Oversimplifying The Underlying Physics?

Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are mysterious, brief flashes of radio energy originating from distant galaxies. Imagine these bursts as a quick camera flash, lasting just a few thousandths of a second. However, as these signals travel through space, they encounter the interstellar medium, the material between stars, which acts like fog. This medium scatters the radio waves, much like how fog scatters light, making the flash appear longer and more spread out when we detect it. By studying both the original burst and the scattering effects, scientists gain insights into the burst's source and the space it traversed, helping us better understand these enigmatic events.