Astronomers Propose New Indicator for Neutron Star Mergers

A new astronomical study suggests an alternative method for identifying neutron star collisions, which are typically linked to short gamma-ray bursts. Researchers observed an unusual event, EP250704a/GRB 250704B, that emitted a prolonged X-ray signal without a supernova, indicating that some fast X-ray transients might represent previously unrecognized neutron star mergers. This discovery could refine our understanding of cosmic events.