logo
A 'zombie star' that could rip the humans apart is shooting through the Milky Way very soon

A 'zombie star' that could rip the humans apart is shooting through the Milky Way very soon

Time of India24-04-2025

Image credits: X/@Hispaniceng
Astronomers have discovered an immensely powerful "
zombie star
" speeding through the
Milky Way
galaxy at an alarming speed of 110,000 mph. While asteroids, meteors and stars are known to move through the galaxy at high speeds often, what is concerning about this 'zombie star' is the fact that it has a magnetic field capable of ripping humans apart atom by atom.
Zombie star is a magnetar
Termed as SGR 0501+4516, is a
magnetar
, a
neutron star
with a commanding magnetic field. Neutron stars are the remains of dead stars that have collapsed into the size of small planets but retain mass that is equal to the sunlike stars. This makes them the densest cosmic objects in space after the black holes.
When was the zombie star discovered?
Image credits: X/@konstructivizm
The zombie star is one of the only 30 magnetars in the Milky Way galaxy and was discovered back in 2008. Back then it was around 15,000 light years away from the planet.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around
Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List
Undo
However, in a new
study
published on April 15th in Astronomy & Astrophysics, researchers analysed the subsequent sightings of SGR 0501+4516 to find that it is moving through the galaxy at a much faster speed than expected.
Could the zombie star wipe out humans?
According to experts, the SGR 0501+4516's magnetic field is around 100 trillion times more powerful than Earth's protective shield. If it "flew by Earth at half the Moon's distance, its intense [magnetic] field would wipe out every credit card on our planet," wrote
NASA
in a statement.
"If a human got within 600 miles, the magnetar would become a proverbial sci-fi death-ray, ripping apart every atom inside the body" the statement continued.
Discoveries about magnetars
Until now, researchers assumed that magnetars were formed by the explosion of dying stars that are later reforged into neutron stars. However, the research around SGR 0501+4516 showed that it's moving too fast and in the wrong direction to have originated from this method. "Tracing the magnetar's trajectory thousands of years into the past showed that there were no other supernova remnants or massive star clusters with which it could be associated," added representatives from NASA.
Thus, researchers believe that it was formed after the direct collapse of a white dwarf, which is the leftover core of a star after it has exhausted its fuel. "Normally, the [supernova] scenario leads to the ignition of nuclear reactions, and the white dwarf exploding, leaving nothing behind," study co-author Andrew Levan, an astronomer at Radboud University in the Netherlands and the University of Warwick in England, said in the statement. "But it has been theorized that under certain conditions, the white dwarf can instead collapse into a neutron star. We think this might be how [this magnetar] was born."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

NASA Layoffs: Is Trump's budget cut approved by Congress? NASA asks employees to opt for early retirement, deferred resignation, or voluntary separation. Here's last date and terms of departure
NASA Layoffs: Is Trump's budget cut approved by Congress? NASA asks employees to opt for early retirement, deferred resignation, or voluntary separation. Here's last date and terms of departure

Time of India

time43 minutes ago

  • Time of India

NASA Layoffs: Is Trump's budget cut approved by Congress? NASA asks employees to opt for early retirement, deferred resignation, or voluntary separation. Here's last date and terms of departure

NASA has introduced a range of new programs aimed at reducing its workforce. These changes follow proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration for the 2026 fiscal year. The programs are voluntary and give employees multiple options for leaving the agency. New Programs for Staff Exit NASA sent memos to employees on June 9, announcing early retirement, deferred resignation, and voluntary separation incentive options. These programs are part of a larger workforce reduction effort. The goal is to reduce the number of NASA employees significantly by 2026. Also Read: 1923 Season 1 Netflix: Why will Netflix air only Season 1? Here's how and when to stream internationally by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo Reasons Behind Staff Reductions The Trump administration has proposed a 24% cut to NASA's overall budget for 2026. This proposal aims to lower the employee count from 17,391 to 11,853, a 32% drop. The proposed budget is still under review by Congress and not yet finalized. Deadline for Employee Decisions NASA has asked employees to decide by July 25 if they want to participate in the new staff reduction options. Those who opt into the Deferred Resignation Program will likely stop working soon afterward but will continue to receive pay until January 9, 2026. Live Events Also Read: This is why nearly 700,000 Americans lost Medicaid coverage in one month Terms of Departure According to the agency, employees who sign the separation agreement will start administrative leave within one to two weeks. Most participants are expected to complete their employment by January 9, 2026. Some critical staff may receive approval to delay their departure until April 1 or as late as September 30, 2026. Similar Changes Across Other Agencies NASA's new programs follow similar moves at other government agencies. Around 75,000 federal workers have already taken deferred resignation offers. Changes have also occurred at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which recently ended remote work. Most of the 5,500 staff at JPL are now required to return to the office or resign. FAQs Why is NASA reducing its workforce now? NASA is responding to proposed budget cuts for 2026. These cuts aim to reduce spending and the number of employees across the agency. When will most participating employees leave NASA? Most employees who accept the offer will stop working by January 9, 2026. Some may stay until April or September 2026, based on need.

Think olive oil is healthy? Shockingly study says it contributes to obesity
Think olive oil is healthy? Shockingly study says it contributes to obesity

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Time of India

Think olive oil is healthy? Shockingly study says it contributes to obesity

Image credits: Getty Images It's time for an oil change, really. A recent study has stunned people with the news that olive oil actually contributes to obesity. For years, olive oil has been consumed as a healthy alternative to other cooking oils. According to the North American Olive Oil Association, more than 50% of American households use olive oil due to its flavour and health benefits. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, olive oil has anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, renoprotective and anti-neurodegenerative agents. However, a recent study published in the journal Cell Reports revealed that eating a high-fat diet containing a huge amount of oleic acid- a type of fatty acid found in olive oil, can cause more obesity than other types of dietary fats. Oleic acid, a monosaturated fat associated with obesity, leads the body to make more fat cells. High levels of the acid boost a signalling protein, AKT2 and reduce the activity of a regulating protein LXR, to result in the faster growth of the precursor cells that form new fat cells. "We know that the types of fat that people eat have changed during the obesity epidemic. We wanted to know whether simply overeating a diet rich in fat causes obesity, or whether the composition of these fatty acids that make up the oils in the diet is important. Do specific fat molecules trigger responses in the cells?" said Michael Rudolph, Ph.D, assistant professor of biochemistry and physiology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and member of OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center to Medical Xpress. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The shocking research Image credits: Getty Images Rudolph and his team which included other collaborators at Yale University School of Medicine and New York University School of Medicine, carried out the research by feeding mice a variety of specialized diets rich in particular individual fatty acids, including those found in coconut oil, peanut oil, milk, lard and soybean oil. Oleic acid was the only one that led to precursor cells that gave rise to fat cells to proliferate more than other fatty acids. "You can think of the fat cells as an army," explained Rudolph. "When you give oleic acid, it initially increases the number of 'fat cell soldiers' in the army, which creates a larger capacity to store excess dietary nutrients. Over time, if the excess nutrients overtake the number of fat cells, obesity can occur, which can then lead to cardiovascular disease or diabetes if not controlled." He suggested consuming fats in moderation and from a variety of sources. "Relatively balanced levels of oleic acid seem to be beneficial, but higher and prolonged levels may be detrimental. If someone is at risk for heart disease, high levels of oleic acid may not be a good idea." One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change

Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed
Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed

India Today

time3 hours ago

  • India Today

Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed

The Ax-4 crew remains upbeat despite another delay in their much-anticipated mission to the International Space Station, Mission Commander and former NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson wrote on X on Wednesday. The latest postponement comes after a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was discovered during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 booster. The rocket is set to carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla into orbit. advertisementPeggy Whitson, in a statement posted on social media, said setbacks and delays are a normal part of spaceflight. "Our Ax-4 crew remains upbeat and looking forward to a safe and successful flight to the Space Station," she in the day, SpaceX announced it was standing down from the June 11 launch date to allow teams additional time to address the LOx issue. Once repairs are complete and pending range availability, SpaceX will announce a revised schedule. The launch, operated by Houston-based Axiom Space, had initially been slated for May 29 but has faced multiple delays due to weather and technical concerns. The current hold extends that timeline, even as mission managers work toward ensuring safety and operational NASA has outlined a range of potential launch windows for the Ax-4 mission, offering some flexibility in the timeline. According to Dana Weigel, Manager of NASA's International Space Station Programme, launch opportunities remain open through June 30, with additional options available in mid-July following a temporary operational pause. The schedule is also dependent on planned traffic at the ISS, including the undocking of Russia's Progress cargo vehicle and the arrival of another spacecraft in early mission is particularly significant for India, as it marks a historic milestone with Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. A decorated test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience, Shukla will take part in scientific research aboard the ISS during the mission's planned 10-day participation highlights India's growing ambitions in human spaceflight and aligns with national efforts to boost interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among younger SpaceX continues to troubleshoot the rocket issue and coordinate with NASA, the Ax-4 mission holds strong symbolic value for both international collaboration and India's expanding role in space exploration.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store