A team of scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics discovered a record-breaking millisecond pulsar, PSR J1311-3430, using a new data analysis method. The pulsar is accompanied by an unusual sub-stellar partner that it is vaporizing, earning it the nickname 'black widow'.
Southampton researchers have developed a model that explains how pulsars slow down with age. The spin rate of a pulsar slows down due to energy loss through radiation, but the exact mechanism was unclear until now.
A team of astronomers has detected gravitational waves at optical wavelengths in light from a pair of eclipsing white dwarf stars. The effect, predicted by Einstein's theory of general relativity, causes the stars to inch closer together and orbit each other faster.
Researchers identified a radio-quiet, very young pulsar J1838-0537 that experienced the strongest rotation glitch ever observed for a gamma-ray-only pulsar. The glitch resulted in a 38 millionths of a Hertz faster rotation rate.
The UK's new supercomputers, Emerald and Iridis 3, will enable researchers to tackle complex areas like healthcare, astrophysics, and climate change. The systems will be made available to businesses and universities through the e-Infrastructure South Consortium.
Researchers using Chandra X-ray Observatory and XMM-Newton have found a point-like object, IGR J11014, which may be a rapidly spinning, super-dense star ejected during a supernova explosion. If confirmed, its speed of millions of miles per hour poses a challenge to existing models for supernova explosions.
Astronomers have observed a unique neutron star system, T5X2, exhibiting marginally stable nuclear fusion at high accretion rates. The RXTE data resolves a long-standing gap between theoretical predictions and observational evidence, shedding light on the complex processes governing thermonuclear explosions.
Researchers use pulsars to test General Relativity in extremely strong gravity and directly detect gravitational waves. Pulsar timing arrays may reveal evidence for cosmic strings and the early Universe.
Millisecond pulsars lose half of their rotational energy during mass-transfer process, explaining apparent age paradox and absence of sub-millisecond radio pulsars. This result is in agreement with current observations and helps resolve the 'turn-off' problem in stellar astrophysics.
Astronomers found two distinct populations of neutron stars, suggesting different supernova channels. The findings shed light on stellar evolution and open new research areas.
A team of scientists using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered a young millisecond pulsar named PSR J1823−3021A, challenging existing theories about its formation. The discovery pushes the total count of detected pulsars to over 100, with NGC 6624 globular cluster contributing significantly.
Scientists have found the first gamma-ray pulsar in a globular cluster, J1823-3021A, which is also the youngest millisecond pulsar discovered to date. Its high luminosity and strong magnetic field challenge current theories on its formation.
Astrophysicists with VERITAS detect pulsed gamma rays above one hundred thousand million electron volts, defying current pulsar models. The finding is causing researchers to consider new theories about gamma-ray production.
Researchers have discovered gamma rays with unprecedented energies from the Crab Pulsar in the Crab Nebula, contradicting existing theories. The findings suggest a different mechanism for producing these high-energy particles, which could be detected by the VERITAS observatory.
Researchers detected high-energy gamma rays from the Crab Pulsar system, which cannot be explained by current models. The observations exceed 100 billion electron volts, shedding new light on pulsars and their behavior.
The Crab pulsar generates beams of radiation from its spinning magnetic field, detected as rapid pulses of gamma-ray radiation. Researchers have detected these pulses with unprecedented energies, exceeding 100 billion electron-volts, putting new constraints on the mechanism for how this emission is generated.
Scientists have detected pulsed gamma-ray emission from the Crab pulsar at energies far beyond what current theoretical models can explain. The VERITAS telescope array detected gamma-rays with energies exceeding 100 billion electron-volts, putting new constraints on the mechanism for how the gamma-ray emission is generated.
Researchers used the $20 million VERITAS telescope to discover pulsed gamma rays exceeding energies of 100 billion electron volts, a surprise given previous detection limits were at 25 billion eV. The findings indicate a need for new ideas about pulsars and their gamma-ray production.
A team of astrophysicists has detected pulsed gamma rays from the Crab Nebula with energies up to 400 billion electronvolts, far exceeding previous detection limits. The high-energy emission challenges existing pulsar models and may require significant adjustments to our understanding of these extreme systems.
A NASA team will attempt to send a balloon with an instrument payload to measure gamma rays from the Crab Pulsar, 6,500 light years away. The mission aims to study the polarization of gamma rays, which can provide clues about the source's mechanism.
Astronomers found a small, half-Jupiter-sized planet with a diameter of 60,000 kilometres orbiting an extremely dense pulsar, suggesting a unique formation process. The discovery reveals the possibility of a diamond-like structure in the planet's core due to its incredibly high density.
A team of astronomers using CSIRO's radio telescope discovered a small planet made of diamond orbiting an unusual star called PSR J1719-1438. The discovery provides insight into the evolution of binary systems and the formation of 'diamond planets', which are thought to be composed of crystalline material.
Astronomers have detected a planet orbiting a rapidly spinning pulsar, dubbed PSR J1719-1438. The discovery suggests that the planet is composed primarily of carbon and oxygen, likely forming a diamond-like material due to its high density.
A team of astronomers using NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope observed a unique binary system that produced dual gamma-ray flares during its closest approach. The flares were many times stronger than expected and occurred despite the star following an eccentric orbit, making them only visible every 3.4 years.
The discovery of gamma-ray flares in the Crab Nebula, powered by a rapidly spinning neutron star, challenges current theories on cosmic particle acceleration. The flares were caused by super-charged electrons of up to 10 peta-electron volts, 1,000 times more energetic than any man-made accelerator.
Astronomers have discovered a neutron star with twice the mass of our Sun, ruling out certain theoretical models for its internal composition. The discovery has significant implications for astrophysics, nuclear physics, and our understanding of matter at extreme densities.
A new way to weigh planets has been developed using radio signals from small spinning stars called pulsars, providing an independent check on previous results. The measurements of planet masses made this new way could feed into data needed for future space missions.
A team of astrophysicists has observed dramatic flares and bursts of energy from a weakly magnetized, slowly rotating pulsar, challenging the understanding of how these events occur in normal, low-field neutron stars. The discovery indicates that internal magnetic fields may be responsible for powering these phenomena.
Astronomers detected X-ray eclipses from a fast pulsar, shedding light on compressed matter and testing relativity. The system's unique properties revealed the size and mass of the companion star with unprecedented accuracy.
Researchers credited with discovery, PSR J2007+2722, a neutron star rotating 41 times per second, has no orbiting companion and is likely recycled or young, sparking interest in basic physics of neutron stars. This is the first genuine astronomical discovery by a public volunteer distributed computing project.
A team of volunteer researchers have discovered a new radio pulsar, PSR J2007+2722, in data from the Arecibo Observatory. The pulsar is believed to be a disrupted recycled pulsar, spinning at an unprecedented 41 times per second, offering insights into neutron star formation and evolution.
Researchers have discovered that many pulsar characteristics are linked due to an underlying cause. The study used observations of 366 pulsars collected over several decades and found that the magnetosphere switches back and forth between two different states.
A team of scientists has developed a method to correct the irregularities in pulsar spin rates, enabling them to serve as more accurate clocks. This breakthrough could help detect gravitational waves, which are believed to exist but have yet to be directly observed.
Astronomers have created a breakthrough in finding natural cosmic tools to detect gravitational waves. Gamma-ray telescopes have guided radio astronomers to specific locations in the sky where they can discover new millisecond pulsars, which can serve as precise and stable clocks for detecting gravitational waves.
Radio astronomers discovered 17 millisecond pulsars using Fermi's high-energy sources, which could be used to detect gravitational waves. These pulsars are nature's most precise clocks, with long-term stability that rivals human-made atomic clocks.
Astronomers have identified the brightest source in the gamma-ray sky, with galaxy 3C 454.3 emitting flares 10 times brighter than its summer levels. The blazar's exceptional brightness is due to its orientation, with a jet aimed straight at Earth.
Scientists confirm ultra-thin coating of carbon on neutron star using Chandra's X-ray spectrum and theoretical models. The discovery resolves a ten-year mystery surrounding the object, explaining its lack of pulsations.
The NRL's Large Area Telescope has made significant discoveries about cosmic rays and high-energy particles. The telescope detected an excess of electrons striking its surface, leading scientists to suggest that a nearby pulsar could be the source sending these particles towards Earth.
Astronomers analyzed gamma-rays from two dozen pulsars, including 16 discovered by Fermi, revealing unprecedented power for discovering and studying gamma-ray pulsars. The studies shed light on the nature of unidentified gamma-ray sources in our galaxy.
A new class of pulsars detected by NASA's Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope reveals the existence of a large population of radio-quiet gamma-ray pulsars. The study identifies 16 pulsars using computational techniques developed to analyze data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope.
Researchers observe transformation of an ordinary, slow-rotating pulsar into a superfast millisecond pulsar with an almost infinitely extended lifespan. The discovery provides direct evidence for the process of cosmic recycling, where matter from a companion star falls into a pulsar's gravity well, increasing its rotation speed.
Astronomers have discovered a unique double-star system that represents a 'missing link' stage in the birth process of millisecond pulsars. The system, J1023, shows evidence for an accretion disk surrounding the neutron star before it disappeared and the pulsar emerged.
The Einstein@Home project is analyzing Arecibo radio data to find binary systems consisting of neutron stars or black holes. The large computational capabilities of the project will enable detection of pulsars in binary systems with orbital periods as short as 11 minutes.
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has discovered 12 new gamma-ray-only pulsars and detected pulses from 18 others. The finds are challenging our previous understanding of how pulsars work, with gamma rays now believed to originate far above the neutron star.
Astronomers have discovered a pulsar that blinks only in gamma-rays, providing new insights into stellar evolution. The pulsar, located in the CTA 1 supernova remnant, is thought to be part of a large population of similar objects, offering researchers a unique way to study stars in our universe.
Scientists have discovered a 10,000-year-old stellar corpse that only pulses in gamma rays, providing fundamental insights into the behavior of collapsed stars. The pulsar, located about 4,600 light-years away, emits 1,000 times the energy of our sun and is thought to be part of a larger population of similar objects.
The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has revealed the entire gamma-ray sky, discovering pulsars in our galaxy and powerful processes near supermassive black holes. The telescope's first all-sky image shows glowing gas, blinking pulsars, and a flaring galaxy billions of light-years away.
Researchers at McGill University confirmed Einstein's prediction that a binary-pulsar system's spin axis should precess due to general relativity. The team observed the unique PSR J0737-3039A/B twin-pulsar system and found that one pulsar's spin axis is indeed precessing as predicted.
Researchers confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity using observations of a unique pulsar system. The discovery shows that one pulsar is 'wobbling' in space, a effect precisely as predicted by Einstein.
Researchers used a rare double-star system to test Albert Einstein's theory of General Relativity, finding that the famed physicist's 93-year-old theory has passed yet another test. The study confirmed that the strong gravity of the neutron stars causes one to wobble or precess.
The study reveals that no more than 4% of energy loss is caused by gravitational waves, disproving a key hypothesis. The analysis provides valuable information about the pulsar and its structure, shedding light on the role of gravitational waves in its dynamics.
Researchers with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory Scientific Collaboration have ruled out emission of gravitational waves as a cause for the Crab Pulsar's spin braking. The study found that no more than 4% of the pulsar's energy loss is attributed to gravitational wave emission.
Researchers used LIGO data to analyze the Crab Pulsar, detecting signals that reveal no more than 4% of energy loss is due to gravitational radiation. The findings suggest other mechanisms, such as electromagnetic radiation and high-velocity particles, are responsible for the pulsar's slowing spin.
Astronomers have found a clue to the evolutionary relationship between pulsars and magnetars by examining archival RXTE data of a young neutron star. The study reveals that a regular pulsar can produce powerful bursts similar to those from magnetars, challenging current understanding of their life cycles.
Researchers have discovered a neutron star that undergoes a dramatic transformation from a pulsar to a magnetar, providing insight into the evolutionary connection between these two types of ultradense objects. The discovery was made using data from NASA's Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer and Chandra X-ray Observatory satellites.
A team of astronomers discovered that a white dwarf, AE Aquarii, emits high-energy X-rays as it whirls around on its axis, similar to the Crab Nebula's pulsar. This behavior indicates that white dwarfs can accelerate charged particles to near-light speed, potentially contributing to cosmic rays.
The Suzaku X-ray observatory has provided new insights into cosmic powerhouses, identifying pulsar wind nebulae as the source of high-energy gamma rays. The observations also suggest that these objects are accelerating mostly protons, leading to a better understanding of the origin of cosmic rays.
Astronomers study G292.0+1.8 supernova remnant to understand complex star death and dispersal of elements like oxygen into next generation of stars and planets. The new Chandra image shows an intricately structured debris field with varying temperatures, indicating lopsided explosion.
Astronomers found a low-mass companion to a rapidly spinning pulsar, which orbits the neutron star every 54.7 minutes at an average distance of 230,000 miles. The system is thought to have formed billions of years ago and is now accreting mass from the companion, causing an outburst.
Researchers using Arecibo Telescope discovered never-before-seen radio emission spectra from the Crab Nebula pulsar. The findings suggest an unknown magnetic pole, contradicting existing theories and challenging our understanding of pulsars.