X-ray Flash Provides Evidence for Magnetar Formation from Neutron Star Collisions

Astronomers have gathered strong evidence suggesting that prolonged X-ray flashes result from the collision of two neutron stars, leading to the formation of a magnetar. A notable event, observed glowing in X-rays for nearly 10 minutes, supports this theory. This discovery, published in Science Bulletin, offers a novel method for identifying these extreme cosmic mergers and enhances our understanding of stellar evolution.