Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#1

Post by jnordwick » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 4:50 PM UTC

Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe
sciencenews.org

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#2

Post by warent » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 5:31 PM UTC

To me, neutron stars are one of the most awe-inspiring astronomical objects. However...

> "Al dente"

> "Previously, scientists didn’t know how large a mountain nuclear pasta could support."

This must be one of the most pop-sci articles I've ever seen.

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#3

Post by saagarjha » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 5:45 PM UTC

> nuclear pasta could support mountains tens of centimeters tall

I’m curious how much potential energy is stored in such a “mountain”. Tens of centimeters is massive; I’m sure the amount of energy must be enormous.

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#4

Post by ericfrenkiel » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 6:01 PM UTC

If you read the article and enjoyed the idea of immense mountains being just centimeters tall, I highly recommend a scifi novel called “Dragon’s Egg” by Robert L. Forward. He actually wrote a scientific research paper on neutron stars and turned the paper into a novel! Hard science fiction at its best and makes nuclear chemistry and physics delightfully approachable.

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#5

Post by maxxxxx » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 6:06 PM UTC

ericfrenkiel wrote: post #4

If you read the article and enjoyed the idea of immense mountains being just centimeters tall, I highly recommend a scifi novel called “Dragon’s Egg” by Robert L. Forward. He actually wrote a scientific research paper on neutron stars and turned the paper into a novel! Hard science fiction at its best and makes nuclear chemistry and physics delightfully approachable.

I really liked the idea of the book but to be honest I didn't like the story so the book was pretty disappointing.

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#6

Post by throwaway2048 » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 6:06 PM UTC

One of the coolest parts about neutron stars is their gravity is so extreme in its warping of space-time, it lenses light around it and you can see more than 50% of their surface when you view them face on.

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#7

Post by elorant » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 6:21 PM UTC

saagarjha wrote: post #3

> nuclear pasta could support mountains tens of centimeters tall I’m curious how much potential energy is stored in such a “mountain”. Tens of centimeters is massive ; I’m sure the amount of energy must be enormous.

Power as in electricity wouldn't be that much. Power as in heat could be mind boggling. Temperature on a neutron star could be 10^12 Celsius.

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#8

Post by stevew20 » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 6:23 PM UTC

warent wrote: post #2

To me, neutron stars are one of the most awe-inspiring astronomical objects. However... > "Al dente" > "Previously, scientists didn’t know how large a mountain nuclear pasta could support." This must be one of the most pop-sci articles I've ever seen.

Seriously, I thought I must've been misreading it serveral times lol. Not sure what the target audience is here, but regardless, it missed that audience

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#9

Post by aruggirello » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 6:35 PM UTC

So much for taking a teaspoon of it. :(

Re: Nuclear pasta in neutron stars may be the strongest material in the universe

#10

Post by time-of-flight » Sat, Sep 15, 2018, 6:38 PM UTC

warent wrote: post #2

To me, neutron stars are one of the most awe-inspiring astronomical objects. However... > "Al dente" > "Previously, scientists didn’t know how large a mountain nuclear pasta could support." This must be one of the most pop-sci articles I've ever seen.

I don't think it's egregious at all. We use terms like "gnocchi phase", "lasagna phase", and neutron-star mountains regularly in the nuclear-matter literature, so these aren't indicative of any pop-sci "massaging" by the author.