The Power Of Neutron Stars

We know how terrifying and powerful black holes can be, but what comes second place in terms to it in terms of overall awesomeness? Join us today as we learn about neutron stars!

Of course we have a lot of picks for that matter, but the particular thing we would talk about today is the star that ranks number 1 in the universe in terms of density: the neutron stars.

Okay, astro fans, I can hear you argue and say “No, black holes are the densest objects in the universe!” But let me tell you this: remember how black holes work? They are effectively stars that collapsed to an almost zero volume, which results in their enormous gravitational force. If they effectively are dimensionless, can we really say that they are “objects”?

We can’t be really sure, and that’s something that only philosophy can answer, but while we’re here at the subject of definitions and what we actually know for certain, let’s just say the one we can categorize as the densest object, quote-unquote, is the neutron star.

And no, a neutron star is not a subatomic particle which grew to the size of the star. It isn’t also a bunch of neutrons agreeing to somehow collectively come together to form a humongous star. Although we can effectively say that a neutron star is like a giant atom, we'll get to that later.

For now, I want to discuss how neutron stars are born and why they are like Phoenixes: how from the ashes of their old corpses, they rise up and fly with their new, replenished lives!

I know you already know this if you’re an astro buff, but to some of our viewers out there who are new, first of all, welcome! We hope we spark your curiosity more through our videos!

Anyway, stars were discovered to follow some kind of lifecycle, just like us living beings on Earth. They too, get born, have a childhood phase, then grow to adulthood, then also die, after certain circumstances.

A star’s usual routine involves fusing hydrogen into helium. Quite honestly, in its lifetime, that’s all it ever does. Now, as we know from basic nuclear physics, when we fuse atoms together, it creates energy. The energy that the fusion in the star creates is countered by the gravitational force towards its center, effectively keeping the balance and preventing it from collapsing towards its center. As long as this goes on, everything is good and well at a star’s life.

But of course, like all lives, stars experience a tipping point in theirs.

Remember how stars burn hydrogen to fuse to helium? Well, eventually, stars run out of hydrogen to fuse, so they fuse helium instead, forming elements such as carbon and oxygen. The energy pushes out the borders of the star causing it to move to its giant phase, until the pressure from electron degeneracy collapses the core of the star, and expelling its outer layer leaving a white dwarf.

For heavy mass stars, a number of times larger than the mass of our own Sun, the story is different.

The same as earlier, when the star runs out of hydrogen to fuse, it begins to fuse heavier elements. The difference this time is that the collapse caused by gravity is so extremely strong, way stronger than what we described earlier, that the fusion goes to Neon, to Oxygen, to Silicon, then finally to Iron.

As this happens, the outer layer of the star begins to fatten up faster as time goes by.

When the core of the star is finally iron, fusion can no longer take place, as iron is stubborn this way. We can imagine at this point, there is no more energy resulting from fusion. So what if that happens? The own weight of the star collapses in itself, effectively crushing it to the size of up to around a 10 kilometer radius. It’s like compressing the star to about the size of Malta!

Now, we know how subatomic particles don’t want to get near each other, right? We can practically say that an atom is made of empty space. However, the strength of the gravitational force that occurs when a heavy mass star collapses crushes this space in between, merging the protons and electrons together to form neutrons, with some neutrinos in excess.

But the extravaganza of energy doesn’t end there! See, neutrons hate being compressed towards one another, too. Just like protons and electrons. The collapse can only occur up to a certain moment where the neutrons form a lattice-like structure, the crushing in stops. By the way, this sudden halt is what we call neutron degeneracy pressure.

Video Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Densest Object In the Universe
05:34 Next Most Extreme Object In The Universe
07:04 What Things Are We Bound To Find Inside?
09:53 The Change In Angular Speed

#insanecuriosity #neutronstars #astronomy

[InsaneCuriosity]

Hey Insane Curiosity Squad! If you liked the video, we would love for you to share it with your friends or on other social networks like Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter, etc... (Since the algorithm is not cooperating in showing us to the public 😅). In just 30 seconds, you will greatly help our Channel to grow and improve future contents. A big thank you from all of us.

[paulkepshire]

Your poor videographer clearly didn't get the memo on which kind of stock footage to use for "Skater"...

[richardgracews]

We thought flat earthers we're the densest items in the whole universe, but today we learned differently. ROFLMAO Thanks

[paultucker]

Oh come on now you guys used skateboarders instead of iceskaters for your anglar momentum analogy bad choice guys had choice

[Jesus]

"Let's watch a skater do a spin...."


Not a single spin....

[victorunbea]

I guess quark stars will need to wait to be discovered

[Bassotronics]

What happens to this “quark matter” if a neutron star blows up? Will the matter still be just as strange since the gravitational force is gone?
Will this matter be dangerous if it reaches Earth?

[SeniorCharry]

Info on Neutron Stars is always welcome.

[crimsondaemon]

A black hole is not the name of a star itself after it has collapsed, but a description of the space, or lack thereof surrounding where the star should be. In this sense, the black hole does not fit in the same category as a neutron star. It is worth mentioning, however, that we are still uncertain of whether the star in a naturally formed black hole remains, or disappears for some reason as we have no way of receiving information from beyond its event horizon. So, there is no way to know for certain, if if can be classified as the densest “objects”.

[Reth_Hard]

How can we decide if black holes are objects or not when we are not even sure what is inside them?

[phizicks]

7:01 hard core.. I see what you did there.. hard, core. neutron star.. I get it

[sandeepmukherjee]

Yes black holes can be categorized as an object as it's the singularity inside a black hole which is dimension less but black hole do have dimensions also accretion disk is also part of black hole which has dimensions

[pancke]

Hey, Just a fyi....You used the wrong type of skaters for the example of angular momentum. You were talking about ice skaters but showing skate boarders.

[kms]

a dozen magnetars in the entire universe??? we already know of over poor information here

[ericr]

I'm insanely curious how this channel has subscribers. My favorite part was the botched skater footage

[tiberiu]

Neutron stars are in second place after black holes. Black hole is not a object, they're made by a star collapsed under gravity, which is reaping the fabric of space and time. Wonder how deep the collapse star gone down, probably in a other universe?

[JustInCase_]

I wanted to give you a thumbs up but I got distracted by all ads being shoved down my throat

[georgi.x]

Just found out this channel, well explained :) will reccomend to my other Bulgarian friends, subscribed ! Thanks

[kevinfranklin]

Since a black hole takes up space, I would consider it an OBJECT!

[STohme]

Very interesting content and very nice video. Many thanks.