neutron stars – Astronomy Now

“Mountains” on neutron stars just fractions of a millimetre tall

28 July 2021 Astronomy Now

Computer modelling suggests neutron stars are gravitationally compressed into near-perfect spheres.

Smallest, most massive white dwarf on verge of collapse to neutron star

2 July 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers find smallest, most massive white dwarf, possibly on threshold to evolve into a neutron star.

New research pins down the size of ultra-dense neutron stars

17 March 2020 Astronomy Now

A new analysis shows a typical neutron star crams 1.4 times the mass of the Sun into a sphere just 22 kilometres (14 miles) across.

Most massive neutron star near black hole tipping point

18 September 2019 Astronomy Now

The most massive neutron star yet discovered appears to be at the tipping point defining the limits of mass versus gravity.

Black hole gobbles neutron star, belches gravity waves

19 August 2019 Astronomy Now

Gravity waves detected 14 August indicate the apparent destruction of a neutron star being ripped apart by a black hole, researchers say

Slow-motion neutron star challenges theoretical predictions

24 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers using the LOFAR radio telescope have discovered the slowest-spinning pulsar yet detected, a highly magnetized stellar remnant that takes more than 23 seconds to complete one revolution.

Jocelyn Bell Burnell earns £2.3 million prize for pulsar discovery

6 September 2018 Astronomy Now

Jocelyn Bell Burnell has been awarded a £2.3 million Breakthrough Prize for her discovery of periodic radio pulses that signaled the discovery of pulsars. She plans to donate the money to help women and minority astronomy students.

Black hole-neutron star mergers could resolve Hubble constant conflict

16 July 2018 Astronomy Now

MIT researchers say gravitational waves from black hole-neutron star mergers may allow astronomers to more accurately measure how fast the Universe is expanding, resolving currently conflicting measurements of the Hubble constant.

New experiment to probe dark matter interactions

17 June 2018 Astronomy Now

A new experiment is proposed to measure dark matter interactions with normal matter, using ultra-precise observations of a binary pulsar to search for signs of a possible “fifth force” acting across the cosmos.

Neutron star merger yields new puzzle for astrophysicists

19 January 2018 Astronomy Now

The afterglow from the distant neutron star merger detected last August has continued to brighten — much to the surprise of astrophysicists studying the aftermath of the massive collision that took place about 138 million light-years away and sent gravitational waves rippling through the Universe.