A theoretical astrophysicist from the University of Kansas, Mikhail Medvedev, has potentially solved a nearly two-decade-old mystery regarding the “zebra” pattern seen in high-frequency radio pulses from the Crab Nebula. In his new study, Medvedev used observational data from the Crab Pulsar and applied wave optics to measure the density of the pulsar’s plasma—a gas of charged particles (electrons and positrons). By analyzing the fringe pattern in the electromagnetic pulses, he developed a method to gauge the plasma density, providing insights into this long-standing astronomical puzzle.
The enigma of the Crab Nebula’s ‘zebra’ pattern
A nearly two-decade-old mystery solved
Explore more ..
Shroud of Turin’s DNA Maps Centuries of Human Contact
Scientists extracted DNA from samples collected in 1978 and what they found buried in those ancient threads is far more layered than anyone expected.
Discovery of auroras on rogue planet challenges current models
These insights are pushing the boundaries of our understanding of alien atmospheres.
Inside the Milky Way’s largest star-forming cloud, seen by Webb
Sagittarius B2 is so much more active than the rest of the galactic center.
How ice breaks down iron faster than water does
Think water rusts iron? Ice does it even faster
