homehome Home chatchat Notifications


Pulsars with black holes could hold the 'holy grail' of gravity

Pulsars and black holes, two of the most enigmatic celestial bodies in the Universe may actually hold the key to understanding how Einstein’s theory of relativity and gravity interact. A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Pulsars are from when a star that turns becomes a supernova and then […]

Dragos Mitrica
December 5, 2014 @ 8:55 am

share Share

Pulsars and black holes, two of the most enigmatic celestial bodies in the Universe may actually hold the key to understanding how Einstein’s theory of relativity and gravity interact.

Artistic depiction of a pulsar and the emitted radiation. Image via National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Pulsars are from when a star that turns becomes a supernova and then collapses into a neutron star; the neutron star maintains its angular momentum, but because it has lost most of its mass, it starts to spin incredibly fast –  usually between a 2 and 50 times per second! The longest known spin period is just over 8 seconds. Due to this spin, pulsars are also excellent time keepers, as they emit intermittent light at regular intervals. Now, researchers believe that pulsars could be used to put Einstein’s theory of relativity to the test, especially if a pulsar would be found in the vicinity of a black hole. The only problem is that so far, this scenario has never been encountered.

“Pulsars act as very precise timekeepers, such that any deviation in their pulses can be detected,” Diego F. Torres, ICREA researcher from the Institute of Space Sciences (IEEC-CSIC), explains. “If we compare the actual measurements with the corrections to the model that we have to use in order for the predictions to be correct, we can set limits or directly detect the deviation from the base theory.”

Deviations mentioned by Torres occur when there is an object with significant mass close to the pulsar; in the lack of a black hole, that’s usually a white dwarf or another neutron star. By analyzing the interactions between pulsar-white dwarf or pulsar-neutron star interactions, astrophysicists can put not only the theory of gravity, but also Einstein’s relativity to the test. In the theory of relativity, the gravitational movement of a body results from the accelerating force exerted by the gravitational fields and nothing else. It is relatively constant in direction and magnitude. In other words, if you set up a free-fall experiment in a laboratory, the results will be independent on where the laboratory is in space and time and will depend only on the gravitational force(s).

This has been confirmed by previous observations, but in a new study, Torres and his colleague Manjari Bagchi argue that if you really want to put this idea to the test, you need to find a pulsar-black hole system; all that’s left now… is to actually find one.

share Share

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

Could a weekly match on the court be the secret to a longer, healthier life?

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

Fossil charcoal reveals early humans’ growing impact on the carbon cycle before the Ice Age.

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

A newly discovered archaeon blurs the boundary between cells and viruses.

This $8750 Watch Was Designed for Space and Could Finally Replace Apollo-era Omega Watches

An audacious new timepiece dares to outshine Omega’s legacy in space

The Brain May Make New Neurons in Adulthood and Even Old Age

Researchers identify the birthplace of new brain cells well into late adulthood.

Your gut has a secret weapon against 'forever chemicals': microbes

Our bodies have some surprising allies sometimes.

High IQ People Are Strikingly Better at Forecasting the Future

New study shows intelligence shapes our ability to forecast life events accurately.

Cheese Before Bed Might Actually Be Giving You Nightmares

Eating dairy or sweets late at night may fuel disturbing dreams, new study finds.

Scientists Ranked the Most Hydrating Drinks and Water Didn't Win

Milk is more hydrating than water. Here's why.

Methane Leaks from Fossil Fuels Hit Record Highs. And We're Still Looking the Other Way

Powerful leaks, patchy action, and untapped fixes keep methane near record highs in 2024.