Nature
What is a rapidly rotating neutron star whose radiation beams produce regular pulses called?
Correct answer A pulsar
Fact
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A pulsar is an extremely dense neutron star, often formed after a massive star explodes. Its rapid rotation and powerful magnetic field produce beams of radiation. When one of those beams repeatedly sweeps across Earth, astronomers detect a sequence of pulses. The mechanism resembles a lighthouse: the source does not truly switch on and off during every turn. Jocelyn Bell Burnell observed the first signals of this kind in 1967. The exceptional regularity of some pulsars now helps scientists investigate matter under extreme conditions, test strong gravitational fields and even search for gravitational waves.
Content last updated · August 23, 2026