Scientists have known for decades that black holes produce powerful jets of plasma, releasing energy into the universe at nearly the speed of light and fueling the formation of interstellar objects.
Now, a new observation suggests that neutron stars, a smaller cousin of black holes, can produce relatively strong jets that rival black holes in power and efficiency.
“This is the first time it has been shown how powerful these outflows from neutron stars can be,” said Sebastian Heinz, assistant professor of astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison