Neutron stars are the densest objects in the universe from "summary" of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Neutron stars are the densest objects in the universe. Imagine taking the entire mass of the Sun and squeezing it into a sphere the size of a city. That's what a neutron star is - a stellar remnant so compact that a single teaspoon of its material would weigh billions of tons. When a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it can no longer support its own weight against gravity. The star collapses under its own gravity, compressing its atoms into a state where electrons merge with protons to form neutrons. The result is a neutron star - a tiny, incredibly dense object made almost entirely of neutrons. Neutron stars are born in the violent aftermath of a supernova explosion, where a massive star's outer layers are blown away, leaving behind a dense core. These remnants are typically only about 12 miles in diameter, yet they can contain more mass than the Sun. This extreme density gives neutron stars some remarkable properties. One such property is their intense gravitational pull. The gravitational force on the surface of a neutron star is so strong that it can deform spacetime, causing time to slow down. This effect, known as time dilation, means that clocks on a neutron star would tick more slowly than those on Earth. Another consequence of their extreme density is their immense pressure. The pressure at the core of a neutron star is so high that it can cause the neutrons to behave like a superfluid, flowing without any friction. This superfluidity allows neutron stars to rotate at incredibly high speeds, spinning hundreds of times per second. Despite their small size, neutron stars are among the most powerful sources of energy in the universe. They emit intense radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio waves to X-rays. This radiation comes from the star's magnetic field, which is trillions of times stronger than Earth's magnetic field.- Neutron stars are truly remarkable objects that push the limits of what we thought was possible in the universe. Their extreme density, intense gravity, and powerful radiation make them some of the most fascinating and enigmatic objects in the cosmos.
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