Astronomers led by McGill research group discover new
phenomenon in neutron star
The physics behind some of the most extraordinary stellar
objects in the Universe just became even more puzzling.
A group of astronomers led by McGill researchers using
NASA's Swift satellite have discovered a new kind of glitch in the cosmos,
specifically in the rotation of a neutron star.
Neutron stars are among the densest objects in the
observable universe; higher densities are found only in their close cousins,
black holes. A typical neutron star packs as much mass as half-a-million Earths
within a diameter of only about 20 kilometers. A teaspoonful of neutron star
matter would weigh approximately 1 billion tons, roughly the same as 100
skyscrapers made of solid lead.