NASA | Fermi Spots 'Superflares' in the Crab Nebula

The video explores the Crab Nebula, the remnants of a supernova observed in 1054, and its pulsar, a magnetized neutron star. The pulsar emits gamma rays, making it one of the brightest sources in the sky. Despite its brightness, the pulsar is not the source of the nebula's flares. NASA's Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope and Chandra X-Ray Observatory have studied these flares, which are caused by electrons moving at near-light speeds. These electrons emit gamma rays when interacting with magnetic fields, reaching energies 100 times higher than Earth's particle accelerators. The video highlights the ongoing mystery and scientific interest in these phenomena.

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