NASA has discovered a neutron star called M82 X-2 in the Universe that is 10 million times brighter than the Sun. This finding is significant because the neutron star violates a law of physics known as the Eddington limit, which defines the maximum luminosity of an object as a function of its mass. Typically, if the X-ray power exceeds this limit, the object (in our case, a neutron star) must explode…..CONTINUE READING...CONTINUE READING
Scientists have previously discovered ultra-bright X-ray sources, but they are usually 100 to 500 times the Eddington limit, and astrophysicists have been unable to find an explanation for these sources. Some had suggested that the high brightness was an optical illusion, but a new NASA study proves that such objects do exist in our Universe.
Previously, black holes were thought to be the source of these powerful emissions. However, in the case of M82 X-2, it is a neutron star with a surface gravity 100 trillion times greater than that of the Earth. Due to this, when matter falls on the surface of the star, an enormous amount of energy is released. For example, the effect of a marshmallow falling would be comparable to the explosion of thousands of hydrogen bombs.
M82 X-2 is located near another star, and it takes out the equivalent mass of 1.5 Earths each year. NASA scientists believe that the neutron star is undergoing processes that allow it to violate Eddington’s limit and not explode. It is possible that a strong magnetic field is the reason for this…..CONTINUE READING
