Astronomers find new type of neutron star

A team of scientists have discovered a whole new type of cosmic object. The astronomers say the small, high compressed neutron stars they found, named Rotating Radio Transients (RRATs) are likely related to pulsars.

Neutron stars are the staggeringly dense cores of massive stars left behind after supernova explosions. The objects contain one and a half times the mass of our own sun packed into a space the size of a large city.

"These [new objects] are basically a new type of neutron star, but we're not exactly sure how they fit together with the other types," said astronomer Ingrid Stairs, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

More details over at National Geographic.