Why do pulsars send out regular flashes of radio waves and light?
Quick Answer
Pulsars are rotating neutron stars with strong magnetic fields that funnel radiation into narrow beams. If one of those beams sweeps past Earth, we see a flash each rotation.
The Full Story
A pulsar is a neutron star left behind after a supernova, spinning with powerful magnetic fields. The magnetic axis is usually tilted relative to the spin axis, so beams of radiation are emitted from the magnetic poles rather than evenly in all directions. As the star rotates, those beams sweep across space like a lighthouse beam. The first pulsar was discovered in 1967 and famously nicknamed LGM-1 before its true nature was understood.
Key Facts
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"Why do dead stars blink like cosmic lighthouses?"
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