Decoding the Different Types of Neutron Stars Neutron stars are the dense remains of massive stars that collapsed under their own gravity. Imagine compressing the entire mass of the Sun into a sphere the size of a city like London or New York. This results in a density so high that a single teaspoon of … Read more
Measuring Planetary Magnetic Fields: A Professional Overview Planetary magnetic fields are essentially high-stakes planetary armor. They defend atmospheres against the abrasive stream of charged particles known as solar wind. Without this barrier, a planet loses its air to space over geological time. As observers, we don’t just guess these fields exist; we measure them with … Read more
How do we know what the Sun is made of? You look up at the Sun and see a brilliant, featureless light. Yet, you are actually looking at a massive nuclear furnace composed of a specific cocktail of elements. We know exactly what is inside this sphere without ever having taken a physical sample. Astronomers … Read more
