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.

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

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