Magnetar

space · extreme physics · neutron stars · super magnetic

Incredibly dense star. A magnetar is a type of neutron star, which means it's what's left behind after a massive star explodes. It's so tightly packed that a teaspoon of magnetar material would weigh as much as a mountain.

Unimaginably strong magnet. A magnetar's magnetic field is millions of times stronger than anything humans can create. It's so powerful that if you were a few thousand miles away from one, the magnetic force would stretch your body like taffy.

Shines with radiation. As the magnetar's intense magnetic field breaks down over time, it releases huge amounts of energy in the form of X-rays and gamma rays, making it glow brilliantly across space.

Born from explosions. Magnetars form when massive stars at least 10 times bigger than our Sun reach the end of their lives and collapse in a spectacular supernova explosion.

We can spot them. Even though magnetars are incredibly far away, scientists can detect the powerful bursts of X-rays and gamma rays they send out, helping us learn about the most extreme objects in the universe.