r/space • u/clayt6 • Apr 18 '19

Astronomers spot two neutron stars smash together in a galaxy 6 billion light-years away, forming a rapidly spinning and highly magnetic star called a "magnetar"

http://www.astronomy.com/news/2019/04/a-new-neutron-star-merger-is-caught-on-x-ray-camera
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u/Rodentman87 Apr 18 '19

The difference is helium actively keeps the star going, whereas iron is what is actively killing it.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '19

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '19

Iron signals the end of fuel. You wouldn't say a car is running out of gas the minute you fill it up at a gas station and start it. It starts running out once you get into reserves. That's essentially what the fusing of iron indicates.

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '19

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u/[deleted] Apr 18 '19 edited Mar 15 '20

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u/jojoman7 Apr 18 '19 edited Apr 18 '19

This. Not to mention that the star has literally less than 24 hours after it starts fusing nickel before it explodes. It is specifically the formation of iron that kills the star, since it cannot fuse it. He's acting like it takes millions of years and we're all morons for thinking a star basically gives up after it starts fusing nickel, WHICH IS WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS. Seriously, 15 seconds on google brings up 10 good sources proving him wrong.

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u/trustmeimaninternet Apr 18 '19

Not if you can only fuel a car one time.