Black Widow Star Has High-Energy Cocoon
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
The Black Widow pulsar, a fast-spinning neutron star, has a cocoon of high-energy particles around it, scientists using the Chandra X-ray Observatory reported. This is the first direct evidence that this cocoon exists around the pulsar, the scientists said
The Black Widow got its nickname because the high-energy cosmic radiation it emits appears to be destroying its companion star.
The steady push of the matter drawn into the pulsar keeps spinning it ever faster, much as pushing a merry-go-round makes it go more quickly.
