Welcome to brain Stuff, a production of I Heart Radio, Hey, brain Stuff learned Boba bam here. Our knowledge of the universe is always expanding, much like the universe itself. This means that we occasionally discover something new or come up with a new model to explain data that we didn't
quite understand before. One such astronomical phenomena is the magnetar type of powerful neutron star, the existence of which was first proposed in that year astronomers suggested that certain blasts of gamma and X ray radiation and radio pulses might be explained by stars with exceptionally powerful magnetic fields. Since then, astronomers have identified dozens of such magnetars in and around
the Milky Way. If you're curious about what a magnetar is, how they come to exist in the galaxy, and why astronomers consider them among the scariest objects in the universe, this episode is for you. First, let's talk about how magnetars are born. The stars go through a life cycle, like everything else in the universe. What happens to a star at the end of its life depends on the mass of the star. For example, our sun is expected to grow into a red giant, then become a planetary nebula,
then turn into a white dwarf star. More massive stars can explode into supergiants, erupt into supernova, and then become either a neutron star or a black hole. Magnetars are the remnants of those massive stars which have exploded in a supernova and collapsed into a neutron star. While astronomers don't yet know what causes a supernova to result in a magnetar instead of a normal neutron star or pulsar, some hypothesize that it has to do with the original
stars rotational speed. In any case, magnetars are neutron stars with magnetic fields of approximately tend to the power of thirteen to tend to the power of fifteen gals, which is a measure of magnetic density. This is a scale of magnetic power that's hard to conceive, but let's just say that magnetars are considered to be the most powerful
magnetic objects in the known universe. Scientists have confirmed the presence of twenty three known magnetars, and another six are waiting additional data to confirm if they meet the criteria to be considered. Many of these are located in the Milky Way, but don't worry, none are close to Earth. The nearest is about nine thousand light years away in the constellation Karina, another is some twenty thousand light years away in Aquila, and yet another is about fifty thousand
light years away in Sagittarius. These distances are obviously far beyond anywhere we've explored in our galaxy or even sent probes like Voyager one or two to visit. While the stellar life cycle that leads to a magnetar can take millions or billions of years, magnetars themselves have a relatively short cosmic life. The magnetic field of a magnetar begins
to decay after roughly ten thousand years. This means that the magnetars that we see in our galaxy today are just a few of the many magnetars that have ever existed. The scientists estimate that there may be as many thirty million inactive magnetars in the Milky Way alone. Okay, but how do magnetars compare with the power of black holes? Black holes are also certainly not the kind of thing
would want close to Earth before the article. This episode is based on How's to works book by email with Phil Plate, the astronomer who shares his insights, and the Moniker Bad astronomer. He explained that it depends on what force you're measuring. Quote, the gravity from the black hole will always be stronger because the lowest mass black hole is always more massive than the most massive neutron star,
but the magnetism of the magnetar will be stronger. In general, Luckily will never have to worry about encountering a black hole or magnetar close to Earth, but both could theoretically impact us here on Earth even from far away. Plate said, if a stellar mass black hole eats something, it could blast out radiation, but even then I doubt it would be as strongly felt from halfway across the galaxy as
the two thousand four make guitar event. That event was a massive gamma and X ray blast from the aforementioned magnetard that's fifty thousand light years away in Sagittarius. The blast passed over Earth in two thousand four and caused disruptions to satellite technology, among other issues. Okay, so magnatars are indeed scary, but how present is the threat if at all? A Plate said, I am worried about magnetars given what happened in two thousand four, the one responsible
is exceptionally powerful. I don't think that any that strong are closer to Earth, but the impact on Earth gets stronger with the inverse of the distance squared. If one were one fifth that distance, the impact would be twenty five times stronger. Not only what a strong magnetar pulse effect are electronics and other technology, but one with enough length would affect our physiology, including the bioelectricity in our bodies and between the atoms that make up everything we know.
Let's just say we should all be glad, but the nearest known magnentar is nine thousand light years away. Today's episode is based on the article why our mag guitar is so scary on how stuff works dot Com, written by Valerie steam App. Brain Stuff is a production of I Heart Radio in partnership with how stuff Works dot Com, and it's produced by Tyler Clang. Four more podcasts my heart Radio, visit the heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.