Researchers in China discovered a binary system featuring a pulsar that orbits within the outer layers of its companion star, a phenomenon analogous to 'spider stars' which prey on their partners. This finding is pivotal as it provides rare evidence of the common envelope phase in stellar evolution, which has never been directly observed. Pulsars, highly dense neutron stars, can spin hundreds of times every second and emit beams of radiation. The newly identified pulsar, PSR J1928+1815, completes an orbit every 3.6 hours and becomes eclipsed for a portion of that period, highlighting its close interaction with its host star.
"The findings detailed in a published journal are an incredibly rare example of a 'spider star' that preys on its companion, making it one of the best evidences yet of the common envelope phase, never before directly observed by astronomers."
"Pulsars are rapidly spinning neutron stars and their gravity is so tightly packed, containing more mass than our Sun inside just a dozen miles radius; a teaspoon of this matter weighs trillions of pounds."
Collection
[
|
...
]