Neutron Star
A neutron star is an extremely dense celestial object formed from the remnants of a massive star that has exploded in a supernova. After the explosion, the core collapses under gravity, compressing protons and electrons together to form neutrons, which are subatomic particles found in atomic nuclei. This results in a star primarily made of neutrons, making it incredibly dense; a sugar-cube-sized amount of neutron-star material would weigh millions of tons. Unlike nuclear fission, which splits atoms to release energy, neutron stars showcase the balance between gravitational collapse and neutron degeneracy pressure, creating fascinating cosmic environments.
Additional Insights
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A neutron star is an incredibly dense remnant of a massive star that has exploded in a supernova. After exhausting its nuclear fuel, the core collapses under gravity, and protons and electrons combine to form neutrons. As a result, neutron stars are composed mainly of tightly packed neutrons and are remarkably small—typically about 20 kilometers in diameter, yet they can have a mass greater than that of the Sun. They have extremely strong magnetic fields and can emit beams of radiation, which makes some of them detectable as pulsing sources called pulsars.