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So I wonder sometimes why isn't the universe you know, more boring?

So I wonder sometimes why isn't the universe you know, more boring?

You know, what, what do you mean more boring?

You know, what, what do you mean more boring?

Well, not only is so much of our universe beautiful, from you know, like features on Earth to incredible things in space, but it's also just seems to be filled with like really weird stuff, you know.

Well, not only is so much of our universe beautiful, from you know, like features on Earth to incredible things in space, but it's also just seems to be filled with like really weird stuff, you know.

Yeah, the universe always to top itself with more intent or more crazy stuff.

Yeah, the universe always to top itself with more intent or more crazy stuff.

I know.

I know.

But I wonder is that a property of the universe or is that something about us? Like if we meet aliens and they're physicists, would they be like, Yon, the universe is so simple and boring and we're the only ones who think is fascinating or would they also just like stand and gape at the incredible features we see in the universe.

But I wonder is that a property of the universe or is that something about us? Like if we meet aliens and they're physicists, would they be like, Yon, the universe is so simple and boring and we're the only ones who think is fascinating or would they also just like stand and gape at the incredible features we see in the universe.

Oh, I see. You're asking a philosophical question, like, is it not boring objectively or just subjectively as for humans given our experience?

Oh, I see. You're asking a philosophical question, like, is it not boring objectively or just subjectively as for humans given our experience?

Yeah, is the universe not boring because of who we are or because of what the universe is?

Yeah, is the universe not boring because of who we are or because of what the universe is?

Like?

Like?

If we lived in a crazier part of the universe, maybe we would be more used to crazy things.

If we lived in a crazier part of the universe, maybe we would be more used to crazy things.

Exactly. If we had seen all the fascinating stuff early on, then all these discoveries would be ho hum, Right. But we grew up in a kind of a boring corn in the universe, and so we're blown away when we go to like the Manhattan part of the universe and see all the crazy stuff.

Exactly. If we had seen all the fascinating stuff early on, then all these discoveries would be ho hum, Right. But we grew up in a kind of a boring corn in the universe, and so we're blown away when we go to like the Manhattan part of the universe and see all the crazy stuff.

That happens, all the extremes.

That happens, all the extremes.

Yeah. Yeah, we're like the provincial, ignorant misses of the universe.

Yeah. Yeah, we're like the provincial, ignorant misses of the universe.

Y'all.

Y'all.

Y'all got a nice universe here.

Y'all got a nice universe here.

Now let's insult. Let's cut the United States. I mean we should come, definitely, let's cut that. I have Warge and I'm Daniel, and welcome to our podcast. Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe, a production of iHeartRadio in which we take a.

Now let's insult. Let's cut the United States. I mean we should come, definitely, let's cut that. I have Warge and I'm Daniel, and welcome to our podcast. Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe, a production of iHeartRadio in which we take a.

Tour of the universe and find weird, interesting stuff that's hard to understand and try to explain it to you.

Tour of the universe and find weird, interesting stuff that's hard to understand and try to explain it to you.

They were going to take a topic and we're going to examine some of the weirdest examples of them. Some of them was intense and extreme examples of this very common thing you see every night.

They were going to take a topic and we're going to examine some of the weirdest examples of them. Some of them was intense and extreme examples of this very common thing you see every night.

That's right, and this episode is dedicated to a listener who wrote in and asked us to do an episode about all the weirdest stars in the universe. This was requested by Callie Smith, who also in her email described herself as a physics ninja or Hey, what do you think that means?

That's right, and this episode is dedicated to a listener who wrote in and asked us to do an episode about all the weirdest stars in the universe. This was requested by Callie Smith, who also in her email described herself as a physics ninja or Hey, what do you think that means?

She must have gone to like a combination school where they teach physics and ninja skills.

She must have gone to like a combination school where they teach physics and ninja skills.

I imagine that a physics ninja as somebody who breaks into your office late at night, totally silently and solves all the problems you have on the chalkboard and escapes without leaving a trace.

I imagine that a physics ninja as somebody who breaks into your office late at night, totally silently and solves all the problems you have on the chalkboard and escapes without leaving a trace.

Wow. I would love to see a duel between her and like a physics samurai.

Wow. I would love to see a duel between her and like a physics samurai.

What would happen a physics samurai comes in and chops your chalkboard in half? I think less subtle, less subtle problem solved.

What would happen a physics samurai comes in and chops your chalkboard in half? I think less subtle, less subtle problem solved.

Isn't that what you do to your students? You like walk in. This is no good slash.

Isn't that what you do to your students? You like walk in. This is no good slash.

Yeah. No, I'm definitely not like a physics gladiator, that's what you mean. I think I myself more as a physics architect, try to build and sting stuff in physics and find interesting puzzles.

Yeah. No, I'm definitely not like a physics gladiator, that's what you mean. I think I myself more as a physics architect, try to build and sting stuff in physics and find interesting puzzles.

Cool. Well, thank you Kelly Smith for submitting this idea, and it's a pretty interesting one, just the idea that there are things out there that you might somebody might call weird stars.

Cool. Well, thank you Kelly Smith for submitting this idea, and it's a pretty interesting one, just the idea that there are things out there that you might somebody might call weird stars.

Yeah, and you know, you know that our sun is a star, and there's lots of other stars out there, and a lot of them are sort of vanilla. You know, they're out there, they're fusing hydrogen, they're enormous, burning balls of gas. We can see them from billions of miles away, you know. But there's so many of them that becomes a little plane, right, Like you're bored by that. But it turns out there's a lot of stars out there that are weird, that are strange, that do incredible stuff that blows your mind. And so this episode is dedicated to talking all about those kinds of stars.

Yeah, and you know, you know that our sun is a star, and there's lots of other stars out there, and a lot of them are sort of vanilla. You know, they're out there, they're fusing hydrogen, they're enormous, burning balls of gas. We can see them from billions of miles away, you know. But there's so many of them that becomes a little plane, right, Like you're bored by that. But it turns out there's a lot of stars out there that are weird, that are strange, that do incredible stuff that blows your mind. And so this episode is dedicated to talking all about those kinds of stars.

Yeah, because it's it's funny to think that our star, our sun, is this giant, enormous, continual in men's atomic bomb. That's just that it's exploding all the time, and it's but it's it's weird thing. The depths to vanilla version that there are versions of stars out there that would make ours star look boring.

Yeah, because it's it's funny to think that our star, our sun, is this giant, enormous, continual in men's atomic bomb. That's just that it's exploding all the time, and it's but it's it's weird thing. The depths to vanilla version that there are versions of stars out there that would make ours star look boring.

Yeah, you got to be pretty jaded to think an enormous, constantly exploding fugion bomb is the size of this yesterday's news. Yeah, the size of the sun is yesterday's news, right, that. But that's the world we live in. You know, you always need something more exciting, something as you're scrolling down your Internet feed, right, you need something to catch your eye, and so yesterday's ball of enormous plasma is boring and you need something new, something exciting, and so that's what we're providing to you today.

Yeah, you got to be pretty jaded to think an enormous, constantly exploding fugion bomb is the size of this yesterday's news. Yeah, the size of the sun is yesterday's news, right, that. But that's the world we live in. You know, you always need something more exciting, something as you're scrolling down your Internet feed, right, you need something to catch your eye, and so yesterday's ball of enormous plasma is boring and you need something new, something exciting, and so that's what we're providing to you today.

Yeah, so let's break it down. What do you mean by weird stars or stars that are not like the typical star that you see out in the universe.

Yeah, so let's break it down. What do you mean by weird stars or stars that are not like the typical star that you see out in the universe.

Yeah, you know, astronomers like to look out in the sky and see what they look at and try to understand it, and they look at the population they see. Do the stars have the distribution of brightness that we expect? Do we see the sizes that we expect? The distances we expect, and they start to ask questions, you know, and when they do so, they find some odd balls. They find some stars out there that don't quite act the way they might have expected, and it gives them clues that there's difference stuff going on in the universe that's producing these weird stars. And so specifically today we're interested in things like neutron stars and pulsars and weird things called magnetars.

Yeah, you know, astronomers like to look out in the sky and see what they look at and try to understand it, and they look at the population they see. Do the stars have the distribution of brightness that we expect? Do we see the sizes that we expect? The distances we expect, and they start to ask questions, you know, and when they do so, they find some odd balls. They find some stars out there that don't quite act the way they might have expected, and it gives them clues that there's difference stuff going on in the universe that's producing these weird stars. And so specifically today we're interested in things like neutron stars and pulsars and weird things called magnetars.

Magnetars sounds like a Greek mythology monster.

Magnetars sounds like a Greek mythology monster.

I wonder what a magnetar would do against a physics ninja. Who do you think of?

I wonder what a magnetar would do against a physics ninja. Who do you think of?

Oh, epic battle. That would be a epic battle. I'd love to see some fan art if anyone's listening, who knows it to draw magnetar physics ninja.

Oh, epic battle. That would be a epic battle. I'd love to see some fan art if anyone's listening, who knows it to draw magnetar physics ninja.

I'd love to see that done. That'd be awesome. Yeah, so we are going to dig into what's weird and fascinating and interesting about all these kinds of stars. But of course, before we do so, I went around and I asked people what they knew about these weird categories of stars.

I'd love to see that done. That'd be awesome. Yeah, so we are going to dig into what's weird and fascinating and interesting about all these kinds of stars. But of course, before we do so, I went around and I asked people what they knew about these weird categories of stars.

Yeah, we asked people what they thought was a neutron star or a pulsar or a magnetar that's right.

Yeah, we asked people what they thought was a neutron star or a pulsar or a magnetar that's right.

So before you listen to these answers, think to yourself, do you know what a neutron star is? How's it made? Why is it weird? Do you know what a magnetar is other than a comic book villain in Jorges imagination? Think about it for yourself, then listen to these answers.

So before you listen to these answers, think to yourself, do you know what a neutron star is? How's it made? Why is it weird? Do you know what a magnetar is other than a comic book villain in Jorges imagination? Think about it for yourself, then listen to these answers.

Here's what people had to say.

Here's what people had to say.

Kind of, but I don't know too much of it, Like I don't know, I don't know the big stars I've heard before, but nothing about like animation in it.

Kind of, but I don't know too much of it, Like I don't know, I don't know the big stars I've heard before, but nothing about like animation in it.

So I feel like I've heard about neutrons stars, but not the other two.

So I feel like I've heard about neutrons stars, but not the other two.

Did you make a guess what a neutron star is?

Did you make a guess what a neutron star is?

Neutrons are like it's like the atom, right, like the protons, electrons, the neutrons.

Neutrons are like it's like the atom, right, like the protons, electrons, the neutrons.

So I would assume.

So I would assume.

It has to do something that that.

It has to do something that that.

Okay, I know, well, if you had to guess what a quasar was, what would you guess?

Okay, I know, well, if you had to guess what a quasar was, what would you guess?

It is like a type of star or something something like that? A fireball awesome.

It is like a type of star or something something like that? A fireball awesome.

A pulsar, to my understanding, would be like a black hole. When a black hole is and I could be very wrong. When a black hole is like eating or you know, or just breaking apart like a play it and as it's doing that, it's spewing you know, stuff out, and as the black hole spins, it kind of emits.

A pulsar, to my understanding, would be like a black hole. When a black hole is and I could be very wrong. When a black hole is like eating or you know, or just breaking apart like a play it and as it's doing that, it's spewing you know, stuff out, and as the black hole spins, it kind of emits.

Like what is like.

Like what is like.

Radiation or you know, frequencies that when we see it here on Earth, it seems like pulses or flashes.

Radiation or you know, frequencies that when we see it here on Earth, it seems like pulses or flashes.

Cool something that's like emitting like.

Cool something that's like emitting like.

Energy.

Energy.

I'm not sure a.

I'm not sure a.

P U L S A R.

P U L S A R.

I have, but to honest with you, I can't remember.

I have, but to honest with you, I can't remember.

What it is, all right. How about a neutron star, I'm.

What it is, all right. How about a neutron star, I'm.

Sure, just like any other star, is a form of energy that now emits a sense of light. As far as neutron I mean, that's that's detually my best guess. I mean they're from the neutron star because it's probably more neutrons than like what positrons.

Sure, just like any other star, is a form of energy that now emits a sense of light. As far as neutron I mean, that's that's detually my best guess. I mean they're from the neutron star because it's probably more neutrons than like what positrons.

And those other things.

And those other things.

So what do you think of those answers or him?

So what do you think of those answers or him?

Yeah, I know, I think they demonstrate as much knowledge as me about these topics.

Yeah, I know, I think they demonstrate as much knowledge as me about these topics.

I see, so like them, you're fascinated to learn more about neutron stars than pulstars.

I see, so like them, you're fascinated to learn more about neutron stars than pulstars.

Like them, I would have just said, yeah, it's like a fireball, right, or it's a big ball of energy.

Like them, I would have just said, yeah, it's like a fireball, right, or it's a big ball of energy.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So a lot of people seem to have heard the term, right, neutron star is not unfamiliar to people. I think one reason is that Thor's hammer is supposed to be made out of neutron star material. Isn't that right?

So a lot of people seem to have heard the term, right, neutron star is not unfamiliar to people. I think one reason is that Thor's hammer is supposed to be made out of neutron star material. Isn't that right?

Oh?

Oh?

Is that true?

Is that true?

I think so. I'm not an expert on the Marvel universe. I'm sure somebody's gonna write in and correct me, but please.

I think so. I'm not an expert on the Marvel universe. I'm sure somebody's gonna write in and correct me, but please.

Do I think it was forged by the energy of a neutron star. Oh, right, according to the movie, But I'm not sure if it's comic book lore.

Do I think it was forged by the energy of a neutron star. Oh, right, according to the movie, But I'm not sure if it's comic book lore.

Isn't it super heavy? Though? It's super heavy? Right, it's as dense as a neutron star.

Isn't it super heavy? Though? It's super heavy? Right, it's as dense as a neutron star.

Right, I don't know if it's super heavy. I know that only Thor can pick it up.

Right, I don't know if it's super heavy. I know that only Thor can pick it up.

Yeah, there's some complicated physics rules in the Marvel universe there. Well, this is not Dale and Jorge explain the Marvel universe. So let's get back to our universe.

Yeah, there's some complicated physics rules in the Marvel universe there. Well, this is not Dale and Jorge explain the Marvel universe. So let's get back to our universe.

Although that sounds like a great podcast.

Although that sounds like a great podcast.

That's our spinoff podcast. Yeah exactly. Yeah. I thought people, you know, mostly had heard of this stuff, but I didn't really know a lot of details about what pulsars were, and nobody had any idea what a magnetar.

That's our spinoff podcast. Yeah exactly. Yeah. I thought people, you know, mostly had heard of this stuff, but I didn't really know a lot of details about what pulsars were, and nobody had any idea what a magnetar.

Was I mean it sounds like it's magnetic.

Was I mean it sounds like it's magnetic.

Yes, that's a good clue. Magnetars are super magnetic.

Yes, that's a good clue. Magnetars are super magnetic.

Is it like a star that will stick to your fridge or.

Is it like a star that will stick to your fridge or.

It's a star that will erase your credit cards?

It's a star that will erase your credit cards?

So the idea is that when you look out into the sky at night, you see a whole bunch of stars, but some of the ones that you're looking at are not like the others.

So the idea is that when you look out into the sky at night, you see a whole bunch of stars, but some of the ones that you're looking at are not like the others.

That's right, some of them are pretty weird and they're not always easy to spot. So let's dig into it. The first category of weird stars we want to talk about is neutron stars.

That's right, some of them are pretty weird and they're not always easy to spot. So let's dig into it. The first category of weird stars we want to talk about is neutron stars.

Yeah, so what's a neutron star besides you know, an plot element in the Avengers movie.

Yeah, so what's a neutron star besides you know, an plot element in the Avengers movie.

Well, I don't think they were created just for that purpose. Neutron star is some what happens after some stars go super nova. Right, So, the typical life cycle of a star is gas and dust come together. They're compressed by gravity. It starts to ignite in the center. It burns for billions of years.

Well, I don't think they were created just for that purpose. Neutron star is some what happens after some stars go super nova. Right, So, the typical life cycle of a star is gas and dust come together. They're compressed by gravity. It starts to ignite in the center. It burns for billions of years.

Right.

Right.

Eventually it runs out of that fuel and the burning slows down and it can't any longer prevent itself from collapsing. Gravitationally, right, all this stuff. Gravity is trying to pull the star into as small a dot as possible. But during its whole life, it's burning, and that's causing this outward pressure. Eventually that burning fades and fades and fades. Then the star gives way to the inevitable forces of gravity and collapses.

Eventually it runs out of that fuel and the burning slows down and it can't any longer prevent itself from collapsing. Gravitationally, right, all this stuff. Gravity is trying to pull the star into as small a dot as possible. But during its whole life, it's burning, and that's causing this outward pressure. Eventually that burning fades and fades and fades. Then the star gives way to the inevitable forces of gravity and collapses.

Like it's nusts out and all that stuff to suddenly crunches down into the center. Yeah.

Like it's nusts out and all that stuff to suddenly crunches down into the center. Yeah.

Well, usually you get an implosion followed by an explosion, which is a supernova, so a huge amount of light is emitted, and then you have what's left over is a very very very dense, very small core. And if it's big enough, if it's like massive enough, then it can form a black hole. Right, And that's how a lot of black holes are made. But it's not quite massive enough. Sometimes it doesn't form a black hole. It just forms a super dense blob of stuff.

Well, usually you get an implosion followed by an explosion, which is a supernova, so a huge amount of light is emitted, and then you have what's left over is a very very very dense, very small core. And if it's big enough, if it's like massive enough, then it can form a black hole. Right, And that's how a lot of black holes are made. But it's not quite massive enough. Sometimes it doesn't form a black hole. It just forms a super dense blob of stuff.

Wow, So a neutron star is like a failed black hole.

Wow, So a neutron star is like a failed black hole.

I don't want to pass any value judgments on neutron stars. I think neutron stars should be happy with how they look, you know, and not be aspiring to anything else. But yeah, neutrons stars are black holes that didn't go black.

I don't want to pass any value judgments on neutron stars. I think neutron stars should be happy with how they look, you know, and not be aspiring to anything else. But yeah, neutrons stars are black holes that didn't go black.

This is a stellar positive podcast.

This is a stellar positive podcast.

That's right, that's right. Love your body, stars, love who you are. But yeah, there are blobs of matter that weren't big enough, weren't dense enough to turn into black holes. What are you left with? This huge blob of matter And it's an amazing amount of gravitational pressure, and it squeezes, squeezes down and in the end, you know, you started out with this thing. It's millions of kilometers wide. All that stuff gets compressed into a little blob that's like ten kilometers in radius.

That's right, that's right. Love your body, stars, love who you are. But yeah, there are blobs of matter that weren't big enough, weren't dense enough to turn into black holes. What are you left with? This huge blob of matter And it's an amazing amount of gravitational pressure, and it squeezes, squeezes down and in the end, you know, you started out with this thing. It's millions of kilometers wide. All that stuff gets compressed into a little blob that's like ten kilometers in radius.

Which is pretty small. It's like the size of Manhattan.

Which is pretty small. It's like the size of Manhattan.

Yeah, exactly. And these things start out often much bigger than our son. Remember our sun is fairly small compared to a lot of sons out there. So this thing comes out to be like ten kilometers wide, but still have like one or two times the mass of our sun. So imagine taking our sun and squol pleasing it down to like the size of Manhattan. Wow.

Yeah, exactly. And these things start out often much bigger than our son. Remember our sun is fairly small compared to a lot of sons out there. So this thing comes out to be like ten kilometers wide, but still have like one or two times the mass of our sun. So imagine taking our sun and squol pleasing it down to like the size of Manhattan. Wow.

And what's holding it together is the gravity, right.

And what's holding it together is the gravity, right.

That's right. Gravity is pulling this thing together, and nothing else is capable of sustaining it anymore. There's no pressure left to keep it larger.

That's right. Gravity is pulling this thing together, and nothing else is capable of sustaining it anymore. There's no pressure left to keep it larger.

So what's keeping it from becoming a black hole. Why don't it just keep compressing because of gravity?

So what's keeping it from becoming a black hole. Why don't it just keep compressing because of gravity?

Yeah, well there's not enough gravity, right, there is some pressure there, and so what happens. The reason it's called the neutron star is that gravity's compressed it. And you know mostly these atoms have neutrons and protons and electrons, right, Well, it gets so compressed that the protons and the electrons they have this interaction and they turn into neutrons. Right, So you turn all the protons and electrons into neutrons. Remember, protons are plus one, electrons are minus one.

Yeah, well there's not enough gravity, right, there is some pressure there, and so what happens. The reason it's called the neutron star is that gravity's compressed it. And you know mostly these atoms have neutrons and protons and electrons, right, Well, it gets so compressed that the protons and the electrons they have this interaction and they turn into neutrons. Right, So you turn all the protons and electrons into neutrons. Remember, protons are plus one, electrons are minus one.

Wait waits usually there one is plus and one is negative. So they attract each other. But you're saying, what they get close enough, they become a neutron.

Wait waits usually there one is plus and one is negative. So they attract each other. But you're saying, what they get close enough, they become a neutron.

They turn into a neutron. Yeah, and it's not like, don't be confused. A neutron is not just a proton and electrons stuck together. Right. There's a transformation of the quarks that are inside the proton. One of the quarks inside the protons gets flipped from being like a down cork to an upqrk and that turns the proton into a neutron. And also it emits a neutrino, and so you turn all the protons and electrons inside these atoms into neutrons, so that all you're left with is neutrons.

They turn into a neutron. Yeah, and it's not like, don't be confused. A neutron is not just a proton and electrons stuck together. Right. There's a transformation of the quarks that are inside the proton. One of the quarks inside the protons gets flipped from being like a down cork to an upqrk and that turns the proton into a neutron. And also it emits a neutrino, and so you turn all the protons and electrons inside these atoms into neutrons, so that all you're left with is neutrons.

Why doesn't that collapse into a black hole.

Why doesn't that collapse into a black hole.

Well, neutrons don't like to be on top of each other, right, and there's still gluons and things. The neutrons don't want to be like literally on top of each other. So there's still enough pressure there to prevent it from collapsing into a black hole. If there was more.

Well, neutrons don't like to be on top of each other, right, and there's still gluons and things. The neutrons don't want to be like literally on top of each other. So there's still enough pressure there to prevent it from collapsing into a black hole. If there was more.

Push each other out to Yeah, they crowd each other out.

Push each other out to Yeah, they crowd each other out.

Yeah, you know, it's like a bag of ping pong balls, right, You squeeze it and squeeze it and squeeze it, and eventually they pack so tightly that they can't get any closer. And if you had enough neutrons you added another you know, if you double the mass or something, there'd be enough gravitational pressure it would form a black hole. But these are ones where there isn't enough gravitational pressure to overcome the neutrons put against each other.

Yeah, you know, it's like a bag of ping pong balls, right, You squeeze it and squeeze it and squeeze it, and eventually they pack so tightly that they can't get any closer. And if you had enough neutrons you added another you know, if you double the mass or something, there'd be enough gravitational pressure it would form a black hole. But these are ones where there isn't enough gravitational pressure to overcome the neutrons put against each other.

It's just stuck in this really dense state.

It's just stuck in this really dense state.

Yeah, super dense. You know, if you had like a spoonful of this stuff. It would weigh three billion tons. It's hard to even really fathom, like how heavy this stuff is.

Yeah, super dense. You know, if you had like a spoonful of this stuff. It would weigh three billion tons. It's hard to even really fathom, like how heavy this stuff is.

A spoonful weighs three billion tons. Wow?

A spoonful weighs three billion tons. Wow?

Yeah, I mean you've taken something twice the size of the Sun and compressed it to a sphere ten kilometers wide like that. It's really dense stuff.

Yeah, I mean you've taken something twice the size of the Sun and compressed it to a sphere ten kilometers wide like that. It's really dense stuff.

Wow. So that's why it's called a neutron star. It said it's mostly made out of neutrons.

Wow. So that's why it's called a neutron star. It said it's mostly made out of neutrons.

Yeah, it's basically just neutrons. Like, you know, what is a neutron star? It's a star of neutrons.

Yeah, it's basically just neutrons. Like, you know, what is a neutron star? It's a star of neutrons.

Right.

Right.

For once, we have a great name in science. That's compact, it's crisp, and it's totally accurate. Right, So kudos to the anonymous Physics naming committee that we are often crapping on their work, but today they did a great job.

For once, we have a great name in science. That's compact, it's crisp, and it's totally accurate. Right, So kudos to the anonymous Physics naming committee that we are often crapping on their work, but today they did a great job.

But why is it still called a star? Wouldn't it just be like a neutron ball, wouldn't Why didn't you just call it a neutron ball.

But why is it still called a star? Wouldn't it just be like a neutron ball, wouldn't Why didn't you just call it a neutron ball.

You don't even give it. You don't want to give them this one? Huh? Why is it called the star?

You don't even give it. You don't want to give them this one? Huh? Why is it called the star?

Yeah?

Yeah?

Well, okay, that's a good question. I mean, let's talk about how you see them, right, A neutron star isn't actively fusing anymore, so it's not giving off a lot of lights. So you can't see neutron stars in the sky the way you see other stars, right, just by seeing the light that comes off them. They're more like black holes in that they're intense sources of gravity and the stuff around them is getting sort of rubbed and compressed. They have an accretion disc, right, it's the stuff that's about to fall into the black hole of the neutron star, and that's giving off a lot of radiation. So you see the neutron stars not directly, but if they happen to have an accretion disc, that gives off a lot of ration your radiation. So yeah, that's a fair point. That's a fair point. Maybe they shouldn't be called star they should be called like neutron rocks or scoops, oh neutron or something neutron balls.

Well, okay, that's a good question. I mean, let's talk about how you see them, right, A neutron star isn't actively fusing anymore, so it's not giving off a lot of lights. So you can't see neutron stars in the sky the way you see other stars, right, just by seeing the light that comes off them. They're more like black holes in that they're intense sources of gravity and the stuff around them is getting sort of rubbed and compressed. They have an accretion disc, right, it's the stuff that's about to fall into the black hole of the neutron star, and that's giving off a lot of radiation. So you see the neutron stars not directly, but if they happen to have an accretion disc, that gives off a lot of ration your radiation. So yeah, that's a fair point. That's a fair point. Maybe they shouldn't be called star they should be called like neutron rocks or scoops, oh neutron or something neutron balls.

I feel like I should just get a Noble Prices for figuring out this.

I feel like I should just get a Noble Prices for figuring out this.

No, the Nobel Prize for star naming. Yeah, nice, Maybe you can get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for naming stars, or at least.

No, the Nobel Prize for star naming. Yeah, nice, Maybe you can get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for naming stars, or at least.

A sticker, you know, like a little gold that would be nice.

A sticker, you know, like a little gold that would be nice.

I'll make you a gold neutron star.

I'll make you a gold neutron star.

Or a ball technically. Okay, so I see what you're saying. So it's not like the thing itself, that super dense core is glowing itself. It's just that it's almost acting like a black hole that it's so heavy and stuff that's around it. It's such an intense gravitational field that the stuff around it kind of burns and gets shredded, and that's what gives us the light that we see.

Or a ball technically. Okay, so I see what you're saying. So it's not like the thing itself, that super dense core is glowing itself. It's just that it's almost acting like a black hole that it's so heavy and stuff that's around it. It's such an intense gravitational field that the stuff around it kind of burns and gets shredded, and that's what gives us the light that we see.

Yeah, exactly, it's a lot like a baby black hole, right, But it's cool because it's a black baby black hole you can see into, right. The stuff is not hidden behind the gravitational or event horizon. You can see it. You can study, you can ask questions like how fast is it's spinning? You know, what is it like to be on the surface. And it's pretty crazy because these neutron stars, you know, they contain all the angular momentum of the original star. Right, So imagine, for example, think about like being a figure skater or being on the ice. If you're spinning any of your arms out wide, and then you bring your arms in closer and closer together, you go faster and faster.

Yeah, exactly, it's a lot like a baby black hole, right, But it's cool because it's a black baby black hole you can see into, right. The stuff is not hidden behind the gravitational or event horizon. You can see it. You can study, you can ask questions like how fast is it's spinning? You know, what is it like to be on the surface. And it's pretty crazy because these neutron stars, you know, they contain all the angular momentum of the original star. Right, So imagine, for example, think about like being a figure skater or being on the ice. If you're spinning any of your arms out wide, and then you bring your arms in closer and closer together, you go faster and faster.

Right.

Right.

The reason is angler momentum. You have to have the same amount of spinning momentum when your arms are out wide as when you're there close in, right, But having things close in means they have to go faster to have the same amount of angler momentum because it depends on the radius.

The reason is angler momentum. You have to have the same amount of spinning momentum when your arms are out wide as when you're there close in, right, But having things close in means they have to go faster to have the same amount of angler momentum because it depends on the radius.

So like it shrinks, Like as it shrinks, it goes faster, and it spins faster and faster until exactly it gets so small that it's probably spinning at a crazy speed.

So like it shrinks, Like as it shrinks, it goes faster, and it spins faster and faster until exactly it gets so small that it's probably spinning at a crazy speed.

Yeah, exactly. Some neutron stars we found spin like they rotate. The entire star rotates like five or six hundred times per second.

Yeah, exactly. Some neutron stars we found spin like they rotate. The entire star rotates like five or six hundred times per second.

Five hundred times per second wow per second.

Five hundred times per second wow per second.

Yeah, which means if you're like standing on the surface of the star, the surface is moving at like a quarter of the speed of light. Wow.

Yeah, which means if you're like standing on the surface of the star, the surface is moving at like a quarter of the speed of light. Wow.

But technically you could sort of like land on it, right, like if you maybe right, if you match the speed maybe.

But technically you could sort of like land on it, right, like if you maybe right, if you match the speed maybe.

And I don't know what it'd be like to be on the surface of a neutron star. I think it'd be pretty hot and unpleasant. There's definitely a huge amount of radiation from all the stuff nearby. But yeah, technically you could. I mean, it's a thing, right, you could land on it, you could touch it, just sending a robotic probe first, but yeah, go for it.

And I don't know what it'd be like to be on the surface of a neutron star. I think it'd be pretty hot and unpleasant. There's definitely a huge amount of radiation from all the stuff nearby. But yeah, technically you could. I mean, it's a thing, right, you could land on it, you could touch it, just sending a robotic probe first, but yeah, go for it.

Well, I mean I think if you were spinning that fast, you would probably just get squitched against your chair.

Well, I mean I think if you were spinning that fast, you would probably just get squitched against your chair.

Right, Yeah, exactly. I mean imagine landing on something that's spinning really really fast. Right, You'd have to catch up to it in order to land on it, so you'd have to be orbiting it at a quarter of the speed of light. It'd be pretty tricky maneuver.

Right, Yeah, exactly. I mean imagine landing on something that's spinning really really fast. Right, You'd have to catch up to it in order to land on it, so you'd have to be orbiting it at a quarter of the speed of light. It'd be pretty tricky maneuver.

Okay, So how rare are these neutron stars? How many are there in the universe or in our galaxy?

Okay, So how rare are these neutron stars? How many are there in the universe or in our galaxy?

Yeah, well, we've identified bunch of them, you know, we've seen We've identified pretty confidently, like thousands of them in our neighborhood, and the closest one we've ever seen is like four hundred light years away. And then we can extrapolate. We say, well, if there's a certain density of neutron stars around here that we've seen, you know, how many do we expect to see? And we can have models of stars and super niva collapses and their masses, and the estimates are that there are tens of millions of these things in the galaxy. But and you know, that's a tiny fraction of the hundreds of billions of stars that are in our galaxy. But it's not a small number, right, there's a lot of these crazy dense, super spinning little tiny what do you call them, neutron balls?

Yeah, well, we've identified bunch of them, you know, we've seen We've identified pretty confidently, like thousands of them in our neighborhood, and the closest one we've ever seen is like four hundred light years away. And then we can extrapolate. We say, well, if there's a certain density of neutron stars around here that we've seen, you know, how many do we expect to see? And we can have models of stars and super niva collapses and their masses, and the estimates are that there are tens of millions of these things in the galaxy. But and you know, that's a tiny fraction of the hundreds of billions of stars that are in our galaxy. But it's not a small number, right, there's a lot of these crazy dense, super spinning little tiny what do you call them, neutron balls?

Neutron balls.

Neutron balls.

Yeah, that sounds like something you'd order for dessert, you know, I'd like two neutron balls with chocolate syrup.

Yeah, that sounds like something you'd order for dessert, you know, I'd like two neutron balls with chocolate syrup.

Please, Can I get our ninja physics ninja to cook up some neutron balls.

Please, Can I get our ninja physics ninja to cook up some neutron balls.

Because it's Oh no, you should have a dessert that's not quite so dense. Yeah. So there there's a lot of them, and they spin really fast, they're super dense, they act them.

Because it's Oh no, you should have a dessert that's not quite so dense. Yeah. So there there's a lot of them, and they spin really fast, they're super dense, they act them.

Can you actually see them in the night sky? You can, right, because I heard they don't give a visual light.

Can you actually see them in the night sky? You can, right, because I heard they don't give a visual light.

Yeah, exactly. They're like anything else that doesn't glow, you know, just like an asteroid. Right, you can't see an asteroid unless the sun shines on it. These things are too far away for any start to shine on them. We have to We can only see them from the radiation that comes from nearby them because of the gravitational pressure they exert on like gas and dust that's orbiting them, so you can't see them directly. You can't point your telescope at a neutron star and expect to see it. It ud just be like a black rock, but not a black.

Yeah, exactly. They're like anything else that doesn't glow, you know, just like an asteroid. Right, you can't see an asteroid unless the sun shines on it. These things are too far away for any start to shine on them. We have to We can only see them from the radiation that comes from nearby them because of the gravitational pressure they exert on like gas and dust that's orbiting them, so you can't see them directly. You can't point your telescope at a neutron star and expect to see it. It ud just be like a black rock, but not a black.

Hole, you see, like the chaos. It's that it's costing around itself.

Hole, you see, like the chaos. It's that it's costing around itself.

Yeah, exactly, just the way if you see a star walk you know, through the through the crowd of photographers at the oscars, right, you probably don't see the star directly. You just see like all the flashes of light from the cameras and all the whispering and all the people jocking to get a quote, right, Yeah, And so often it's the secondary stuff that you see more directly.

Yeah, exactly, just the way if you see a star walk you know, through the through the crowd of photographers at the oscars, right, you probably don't see the star directly. You just see like all the flashes of light from the cameras and all the whispering and all the people jocking to get a quote, right, Yeah, And so often it's the secondary stuff that you see more directly.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And probably if you try to reach you go in there and touch touch them, you probably also die, right you probably?

And probably if you try to reach you go in there and touch touch them, you probably also die, right you probably?

Yeah, some of the stars are spinning at a quarter of the spieceful life out Try I burn myself.

Yeah, some of the stars are spinning at a quarter of the spieceful life out Try I burn myself.

All right? Cool? So those are neutron stars or neutron balls. And so let's get into the other kinds of weird stars that we're going to talk about today. But first let's take a quick break.

All right? Cool? So those are neutron stars or neutron balls. And so let's get into the other kinds of weird stars that we're going to talk about today. But first let's take a quick break.

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All right, so let's keep going down our list of weird stars in the universe. And we already talked about neutron stars. Now, what's Daniel, what's our second kind of weird star in the universe.

All right, so let's keep going down our list of weird stars in the universe. And we already talked about neutron stars. Now, what's Daniel, what's our second kind of weird star in the universe.

The second kind of weird star is one of my favorites. And this is something called a pulsar.

The second kind of weird star is one of my favorites. And this is something called a pulsar.

That's that sounds like a like a like a watch.

That's that sounds like a like a like a watch.

They're very expensive. They're only made in Geneva, and they cost like fifty thousand dollars each because they're made by like tiny little dwarves that are kept underground and never see the sun or anything. All right, there's my strange watch fantasy. No pulsars. Pulsars are actually a type of neutron star. Right, So neutron stars we just talked about, and neutron stars have strong magnetic fields, like really really powerful magnetic field because, as we talked about in our episode about why the Earth has a magnetic field, anything that has like a fluid inside of it that can conduct electricity and is active is going to have a magnetic field. And neutron stars already have magnetic fields that are like billions of times as strong as the Earth's magnetic.

They're very expensive. They're only made in Geneva, and they cost like fifty thousand dollars each because they're made by like tiny little dwarves that are kept underground and never see the sun or anything. All right, there's my strange watch fantasy. No pulsars. Pulsars are actually a type of neutron star. Right, So neutron stars we just talked about, and neutron stars have strong magnetic fields, like really really powerful magnetic field because, as we talked about in our episode about why the Earth has a magnetic field, anything that has like a fluid inside of it that can conduct electricity and is active is going to have a magnetic field. And neutron stars already have magnetic fields that are like billions of times as strong as the Earth's magnetic.

Field because it's spinning.

Field because it's spinning.

Is that why yet's spinning, and because it has activity inside of it, So you know, there must be stuff going on inside the neutron stars. It's not just neutrons like crammed in and quiet, right, they're moving around. There's like some fluid and some flow in order to get the magnetic field.

Is that why yet's spinning, and because it has activity inside of it, So you know, there must be stuff going on inside the neutron stars. It's not just neutrons like crammed in and quiet, right, they're moving around. There's like some fluid and some flow in order to get the magnetic field.

So inside of this ten kilometer two suns mass, super dense thing, there's actually stuff going on inside of it that's creating a magnetic field.

So inside of this ten kilometer two suns mass, super dense thing, there's actually stuff going on inside of it that's creating a magnetic field.

Yeah, but we don't understand that very well, Like we even don't understand the magnetic field of our sun very well. You know, our sun has this very strong magnetic field and it flips every eleven years, which is really weird, and we don't understand very well. So we have a very tentative understanding of the magnetic fields inside neutron stars. And even weirder is that some neutron stars have even stronger magnetic fields. Like all, right, neutron stars already crazy hot, crazy dense, crazy fast, crazy, small, crazy, spinning crazy magnetic fields. And this category of them called pulsars, have extra powerful magnetic fields like a thousand or a million times more powerful.

Yeah, but we don't understand that very well, Like we even don't understand the magnetic field of our sun very well. You know, our sun has this very strong magnetic field and it flips every eleven years, which is really weird, and we don't understand very well. So we have a very tentative understanding of the magnetic fields inside neutron stars. And even weirder is that some neutron stars have even stronger magnetic fields. Like all, right, neutron stars already crazy hot, crazy dense, crazy fast, crazy, small, crazy, spinning crazy magnetic fields. And this category of them called pulsars, have extra powerful magnetic fields like a thousand or a million times more powerful.

Wow, and so but others some stars don't have this magnetic field.

Wow, and so but others some stars don't have this magnetic field.

Yeah, some neutron stars have weaker magnetic fields. All neutron stars, we think, have magnetic fields, but some of them have such a strong magnetic field that something really weird happens. And remember that magnetic fields interact with charge particles. So a charged particle gets bent by magnetic field. And you know, on Earth we see this all the time in the northern lights. Northern lights are just charge particles from the Sun or from somewhere else that got carried up to the north part of the Earth by the magnetic field. Right, we have these lines and the magnetic then the charge particles get bent by them and sent to the north or to the south. So something weird happens on a pulsar. That's sort of the inverse, which is that a lot of charge particles get shot out from the pulsar around the north pole and the south pole of the pulsar.

Yeah, some neutron stars have weaker magnetic fields. All neutron stars, we think, have magnetic fields, but some of them have such a strong magnetic field that something really weird happens. And remember that magnetic fields interact with charge particles. So a charged particle gets bent by magnetic field. And you know, on Earth we see this all the time in the northern lights. Northern lights are just charge particles from the Sun or from somewhere else that got carried up to the north part of the Earth by the magnetic field. Right, we have these lines and the magnetic then the charge particles get bent by them and sent to the north or to the south. So something weird happens on a pulsar. That's sort of the inverse, which is that a lot of charge particles get shot out from the pulsar around the north pole and the south pole of the pulsar.

It becomes like a death ray.

It becomes like a death ray.

Yes, exactly two death rays, right, one from the north and one from the top of the south And you know, there's all this radiation produced and it gets funneled up to the north and the south magnetic poles and then shot out into space. So it's not just like sent everywhere like a glowing sun. It's like you take all this crazy radiation and you focus it into just two beams, one from the top and one from the bottom.

Yes, exactly two death rays, right, one from the north and one from the top of the south And you know, there's all this radiation produced and it gets funneled up to the north and the south magnetic poles and then shot out into space. So it's not just like sent everywhere like a glowing sun. It's like you take all this crazy radiation and you focus it into just two beams, one from the top and one from the bottom.

Right. And the crazy thing is that this magnetic field is moving right relative to the star.

Right. And the crazy thing is that this magnetic field is moving right relative to the star.

Well sometimes, like on Earth, the magnetic field is not pointing the same direction as the rotation axis right, So the Earth, for example, right spins around one axis, and the north pole, as we talked about in that other episode, is not aligned right, so the direction of the north pole doesn't always point the same way as the direction of the magnetic north pole.

Well sometimes, like on Earth, the magnetic field is not pointing the same direction as the rotation axis right, So the Earth, for example, right spins around one axis, and the north pole, as we talked about in that other episode, is not aligned right, so the direction of the north pole doesn't always point the same way as the direction of the magnetic north pole.

So there's a it drifts in like an Earth, the magnetic or north pole is drifting into Russia right now, that's.

So there's a it drifts in like an Earth, the magnetic or north pole is drifting into Russia right now, that's.

Right, And as long as they're not aligned, then the magnetic north pole is sort of like sweeping out a circle in space, right, like a cone in space. Now, imagine if you're blasting a hugely powerful laser. That's basically what pulsars are doing. A hugely powerful laser out into space from your magnetic north pole. But the spinning north pole is in another direction. So then the magnetic north pole is going to sweep through space, sending this huge blast of radiation in different places. And that's why it's called a pulsar because it doesn't always point towards Earth. For example, sometimes that radiation sweeps across Earth and we're like, whoa, what was that? And then it turns black again and it wats for the pulsar to spin around and then it covers us again. It's like a like a lighthouse, right that's spinning around and you only see it sometimes it's always shining, but you don't always see it.

Right, And as long as they're not aligned, then the magnetic north pole is sort of like sweeping out a circle in space, right, like a cone in space. Now, imagine if you're blasting a hugely powerful laser. That's basically what pulsars are doing. A hugely powerful laser out into space from your magnetic north pole. But the spinning north pole is in another direction. So then the magnetic north pole is going to sweep through space, sending this huge blast of radiation in different places. And that's why it's called a pulsar because it doesn't always point towards Earth. For example, sometimes that radiation sweeps across Earth and we're like, whoa, what was that? And then it turns black again and it wats for the pulsar to spin around and then it covers us again. It's like a like a lighthouse, right that's spinning around and you only see it sometimes it's always shining, but you don't always see it.

It's kind of like the Death Star in Star Wars.

It's kind of like the Death Star in Star Wars.

Right, Like, how is it like the Death Star? Exactly?

Right, Like, how is it like the Death Star? Exactly?

Yeah, No, follow me on this one, Daniel. You know the little circle that shoots the beam out of the death star. That's kind of like the north pole of the pulsar. And so if you can imagine the death star kind of spinning along its axis, then that that laser beam is going to be also rotating around kind of like a yeah, yeah, Like like if you shine a flash light out into the sky and you move your hand, it's going to be sweeping around.

Yeah, No, follow me on this one, Daniel. You know the little circle that shoots the beam out of the death star. That's kind of like the north pole of the pulsar. And so if you can imagine the death star kind of spinning along its axis, then that that laser beam is going to be also rotating around kind of like a yeah, yeah, Like like if you shine a flash light out into the sky and you move your hand, it's going to be sweeping around.

Right, yeah, exactly. You know, I think a better name for pulsars would have been death stars, because they really are death stars. There are these big blobs, right fully operational battle stations capable of delivering incredible amounts of radiation.

Right, yeah, exactly. You know, I think a better name for pulsars would have been death stars, because they really are death stars. There are these big blobs, right fully operational battle stations capable of delivering incredible amounts of radiation.

Well, you know, this is our podcast, Daniel, we can name things whatever we want. Neutron balls, death stars, exactly inverse. We are in charge.

Well, you know, this is our podcast, Daniel, we can name things whatever we want. Neutron balls, death stars, exactly inverse. We are in charge.

The first pulse are ever discovered actually has a pretty cool name. It's called LGM. It stands for Little Green Men, and that's because it was an exciting discovery, the first pulse I ever seen. You know, they saw it in their data and they saw it was bright and then dark and then bright and then dark and then bright and then dark, and it was regular. Right, It's not random. It's not like the pulsear just shines on you sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. It follows a very specific pattern.

The first pulse are ever discovered actually has a pretty cool name. It's called LGM. It stands for Little Green Men, and that's because it was an exciting discovery, the first pulse I ever seen. You know, they saw it in their data and they saw it was bright and then dark and then bright and then dark and then bright and then dark, and it was regular. Right, It's not random. It's not like the pulsear just shines on you sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. It follows a very specific pattern.

I felt like somebody was trying to send us a signal.

I felt like somebody was trying to send us a signal.

Yes, exactly. So the first time they saw this, they thought, what are we getting a message from aliens? I mean, it's like Morse code or something, right, And so that's why they called it LGM one because they thought, well, maybe this is the first time we're hearing from aliens, and they were a little hesitant to publish.

Yes, exactly. So the first time they saw this, they thought, what are we getting a message from aliens? I mean, it's like Morse code or something, right, And so that's why they called it LGM one because they thought, well, maybe this is the first time we're hearing from aliens, and they were a little hesitant to publish.

That's the real name, it's the LGM.

That's the real name, it's the LGM.

Yeah, the real scientific name of the first pulse are ever discovered was called LG Wow, and they thought, for a while, Wow, maybe this is aliens. I mean, I love reading about those moments in science when people thought they discovered aliens, right, because maybe there are aliens out there, and usually aliens, like in science, are relegated to like the fringe of you know, the extremes, the crazy people, et cetera. But one day we might actually find aliens and some like actual scientists doing careful work, is going to stumble across evidence of it, or hear a message from space or something. So I love hearing about those moments when a scientist is like, am I that person? Am I the person who's going to call it my colleagues and be like, no, I know this sounds crazy, but I think I found aliens.

Yeah, the real scientific name of the first pulse are ever discovered was called LG Wow, and they thought, for a while, Wow, maybe this is aliens. I mean, I love reading about those moments in science when people thought they discovered aliens, right, because maybe there are aliens out there, and usually aliens, like in science, are relegated to like the fringe of you know, the extremes, the crazy people, et cetera. But one day we might actually find aliens and some like actual scientists doing careful work, is going to stumble across evidence of it, or hear a message from space or something. So I love hearing about those moments when a scientist is like, am I that person? Am I the person who's going to call it my colleagues and be like, no, I know this sounds crazy, but I think I found aliens.

Well, they must have feelt pretty confident if they named it LGM. Yeah.

Well, they must have feelt pretty confident if they named it LGM. Yeah.

I think that was mostly a joke between them. But then they found a second one, coming from a totally different direction than the sky, and so they were like, oh.

I think that was mostly a joke between them. But then they found a second one, coming from a totally different direction than the sky, and so they were like, oh.

Let's call this one little Blue Man, Big Green Men or something. So they find a second one, so they thought, oh, they must be and just be there can be two civilizations of little green men sending us signals. It must be some natural phenomenon.

Let's call this one little Blue Man, Big Green Men or something. So they find a second one, so they thought, oh, they must be and just be there can be two civilizations of little green men sending us signals. It must be some natural phenomenon.

Yeah, exactly. And the thing that made it seem like maybe it was aliens was just the fact that it was regular. And that's not that hard to explain, right, There's not that much information content in a regular message. If somebody wants to send you a message saying hi, we're here, we're alive, come talk to us, you don't just send regular beeps, right, you want to send some information, And so that's it wasn't rare convincing as an alien message anyway. Yeah, So then they found the second one and then they found a bunch and so now we found lots of these things.

Yeah, exactly. And the thing that made it seem like maybe it was aliens was just the fact that it was regular. And that's not that hard to explain, right, There's not that much information content in a regular message. If somebody wants to send you a message saying hi, we're here, we're alive, come talk to us, you don't just send regular beeps, right, you want to send some information, And so that's it wasn't rare convincing as an alien message anyway. Yeah, So then they found the second one and then they found a bunch and so now we found lots of these things.

So if you were to look at these out intent, you wouldn't see them in the night sky, right, You only see them in X ray the X ray spectrum.

So if you were to look at these out intent, you wouldn't see them in the night sky, right, You only see them in X ray the X ray spectrum.

Right, that's right. I think they're mostly an X ray.

Right, that's right. I think they're mostly an X ray.

And you would see them as kind of these blinking lights.

And you would see them as kind of these blinking lights.

Mm hmm exactly. And some of them blink slow because they rotate slowly, and some of them blink really fast because they rotate like crazy fast. Like some of them blink on and off every millisecond.

Mm hmm exactly. And some of them blink slow because they rotate slowly, and some of them blink really fast because they rotate like crazy fast. Like some of them blink on and off every millisecond.

Wow. So it's like this something kilometer is big with the massive two sons spinning once every millisecond.

Wow. So it's like this something kilometer is big with the massive two sons spinning once every millisecond.

Yes exactly. I mean, this is an enormous cosmic object doing these really extreme maneuvers just to send us this blinking radiation. It's really crazy.

Yes exactly. I mean, this is an enormous cosmic object doing these really extreme maneuvers just to send us this blinking radiation. It's really crazy.

Wow.

Wow.

And there's a mystery to them, right, Like we don't really know why they're sending this or how they're sending these beams of radiation.

And there's a mystery to them, right, Like we don't really know why they're sending this or how they're sending these beams of radiation.

Yeah, you know, how the magnetic field is generated and how the magnetic field turns into this beam of radiation is not something that's well understood. It's an area of active research. And you know there's some models here and there, but nobody's really fully confident that they that they understand it. It's pretty weird.

Yeah, you know, how the magnetic field is generated and how the magnetic field turns into this beam of radiation is not something that's well understood. It's an area of active research. And you know there's some models here and there, but nobody's really fully confident that they that they understand it. It's pretty weird.

I think it's pretty clear there's probably some guys in black helmets inside turning a lever and that's what's causing these beams. I mean, obviously it's a death star.

I think it's pretty clear there's probably some guys in black helmets inside turning a lever and that's what's causing these beams. I mean, obviously it's a death star.

I find your lack of faith in science disturbing. Whohe and you know costs these guys energy, right, you can't just be a huge out of energy into space for free. That energy comes from somewhere. And so what happens is as the years and the millions of years go by, these pulsars start to slow down. Essentially shooting out all this energy into space is like friction on the on the pulsar, and it slows down and they lasts, like, you know, we think like ten to one hundred million years.