Science
Ultra-Fast Pulsar Candidate Detected Near the Milky Way's Supermassive Black Hole
Columbia University scientists working with the Breakthrough Listen project have identified a millisecond pulsar candidate spinning at 8.19 milliseconds near Sagittarius A*. If confirmed, the discovery could provide a powerful new tool for testing Einstein's general relativity under extreme gravitational conditions.
Key Takeaways
- A millisecond pulsar candidate spinning every 8.19 milliseconds was detected near the Milky Way's supermassive black hole
- The discovery emerged from the Breakthrough Listen Galactic Center Survey using the Green Bank Telescope
- If confirmed, it could serve as a precision tool for testing Einstein's general relativity under extreme gravity
- Follow-up observations are underway, with all data released publicly for independent verification
- Very few pulsars have been found near Sagittarius A* despite models predicting thousands should exist
DE
DT Editorial AI··via sciencedaily.com