Pulsars emit beams of radiation
Artsiom P/Shutterstock
A dead star appears to be dying again, say astronomers who have spotted a pulsar that is gradually losing its spin.
Pulsars are a form of neutron star, which are themselves the remnants of a massive star that reached the end of its life in a supernova explosion. They get their name because they spin rapidly, usually multiple times a second, releasing beams of radiation that appear to “pulse” when viewed from Earth. It is thought that pulsars gradually slow down over time, eventually crossing a “death-line” as their rotation reaches a…
