Jocelyn Bell Burnell

Bigger stars at the end of their life explode dramatically. They hugely brighten up. They kick out a whole lot of gas and stuff into space. And the core gets kicked against, gets compressed, gets shrunk right down.

Bigger stars at the end of their life explode dramatically. They hugely brighten up. They kick out a whole lot of gas and stuff into space. And the core gets kicked against, gets compressed, gets shrunk right down.

Bigger stars at the end of their life explode dramatically. They hugely brighten up. They kick out a whole lot of gas and stuff into space. And the core gets kicked against, gets compressed, gets shrunk right down.

They're known as neutron stars. because they're largely composed of one of the fundamental particles that we call neutrons.

They're known as neutron stars. because they're largely composed of one of the fundamental particles that we call neutrons.

They're known as neutron stars. because they're largely composed of one of the fundamental particles that we call neutrons.

And so the core of the star becomes a ball that's about 10 miles across, typically, and spinning very rapidly. A bit like the ice skater pulling her arms in. Spins faster.

And so the core of the star becomes a ball that's about 10 miles across, typically, and spinning very rapidly. A bit like the ice skater pulling her arms in. Spins faster.

And so the core of the star becomes a ball that's about 10 miles across, typically, and spinning very rapidly. A bit like the ice skater pulling her arms in. Spins faster.

The strong magnetic fields keeps the charged particles constrained. And having lots of energetic charged particles confined to a small volume and whizzing around like fury will likely give you radio waves. Which is a good thing because... Very, very few of them shine light. So we don't see them that way. We see them through the radio waves that they give out.

The strong magnetic fields keeps the charged particles constrained. And having lots of energetic charged particles confined to a small volume and whizzing around like fury will likely give you radio waves. Which is a good thing because... Very, very few of them shine light. So we don't see them that way. We see them through the radio waves that they give out.

The strong magnetic fields keeps the charged particles constrained. And having lots of energetic charged particles confined to a small volume and whizzing around like fury will likely give you radio waves. Which is a good thing because... Very, very few of them shine light. So we don't see them that way. We see them through the radio waves that they give out.

You only see them if they shine in your face or into your radio telescope.

You only see them if they shine in your face or into your radio telescope.

You only see them if they shine in your face or into your radio telescope.

Pulsar is an abbreviation for pulsating radio star. I'm Jocelyn Bell Burnell. I discovered the first pulsar in 1967 and the second one and the third and fourth in 1968.

Pulsar is an abbreviation for pulsating radio star. I'm Jocelyn Bell Burnell. I discovered the first pulsar in 1967 and the second one and the third and fourth in 1968.

Pulsar is an abbreviation for pulsating radio star. I'm Jocelyn Bell Burnell. I discovered the first pulsar in 1967 and the second one and the third and fourth in 1968.

The real eureka moment for me was I was reading a book by Fred Hoyle where he was talking about these big galaxies, you know, 100,000 million stars. And Fred Hoyle in this book was talking about how these galaxies rotate, spin about their center.

The real eureka moment for me was I was reading a book by Fred Hoyle where he was talking about these big galaxies, you know, 100,000 million stars. And Fred Hoyle in this book was talking about how these galaxies rotate, spin about their center.