Newfound dead star spins record-breaking 716 times a second, explodes with thermonuclear blasts

[Admin]

The neutron star 4U 1820-30 is one of the fastest spinning bodies in the universe, spinning at 716 times a second and erupting like an atomic bomb, NASA's NICER telescope has found.

Newfound dead star spins record-breaking 716 times a second, explodes with thermonuclear blasts : Read more

 

[Paul.Verdecchia]

I’m not a physicist, but have a question regarding this article. The author states that a marshmallow crashing into the surface of this neutron star would generate the energy of 1000 nuclear bombs. A marshmallow weighs approximately 7grams, and a gram of matter converted to energy would generate the equivalent of a 21.5 kiloton nuclear blast. What am I missing here? A 150 kiloton marshmallow explosion is certainly impressive, but it’s not 1000 nuclear explosions.

 

[billslugg]

As the marshmallow went faster and faster its mass would increase. By the time it got there it would have a mass of many tons.

 

[Volans]

I was quite surprised to see the globular cluster, NGC 6624, is quoted as being a mere 26 light years away.
Considering M4 is the closest globular cluster at about 6,000 light years, I'm guessing that a few zeros are missing from the quoted distance to NGC 6624.

 

[Paul.Verdecchia]

As the marshmallow went faster and faster its mass would increase. By the time it got there it would have a mass of many tons.

Thank you for your reply. Now it makes sense to me.

 

[Wonder Wart Hog]

Yeah, NGC 6624 is listed as being around 28000 light years away from Earth