NASA | Fermi Catches a 'Transformer' Pulsar

The video explores an extraordinary binary system featuring a rapidly spinning neutron star, or pulsar, paired with a smaller star. This system is unique because its radio signals sometimes vanish, replaced by X-ray and gamma-ray emissions. Researchers believe this occurs due to interactions between the stars, where gas from the smaller star forms a disk around the pulsar, leading to high-energy emissions. The system offers a rare glimpse into a phase where mass transfer can rejuvenate a pulsar. Astronomers are closely monitoring this system to document its next transformation.

Explain the transformation that occurs in the companion's gas stream as it gets closer to the neutron star.

What do astronomers hope to observe regarding the transformation of the binary system?