NASA’s IXPE tracked a rare pulsar—and found an unexpected power source

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Astronomers studying a rare neutron star system have uncovered a surprising source of powerful X-rays. Using NASA s IXPE telescope and data from other observatories, an international team found that the radiation doesn't come from the star s surrounding disk of gas, as previously believed, but from a wild and turbulent pulsar wind. This fast-moving stream of particles and magnetic energy slams into the disk, producing the X-rays scientists detected.