Cosmic Collisions Create a New Kind of Stellar Corpse

Astronomers have identified a potential new class of stellar remnants after analyzing two unusual objects nicknamed “Gandalf” and “Moon-Sized.” Unlike typical white dwarfs, these massive remnants likely formed from violent cosmic collisions, resulting in extreme magnetic fields and ultra-fast rotation.

The biggest anomaly: both objects emit X-rays without a companion star, defying standard models of accretion-driven radiation. Scientists suggest the emissions may arise from internal energy processes or asymmetrical debris orbiting the core.

These two “cosmic twins,” observed at different evolutionary stages, offer a rare window into the final phases of stellar evolution—and may redefine how we understand the death of stars.

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