Scientific Study Evaluates Headline Claim of Cosmic Object Defying Laws of Physics

In this episode, Dr. Brian Gillis and Thomas Smith discuss a recent science headline claiming that NASA confirmed a cosmic object that defies the laws of physics. They analyze the article and highlight the flaws in the title. The team of researchers, not exclusively from NASA, proposes that a bright cosmic object is accreting an incredibly high amount of mass, breaking the Eddington limit for luminosity. This limit is based on assumptions and previous counterexamples. They explain the concept of neutron stars and how they emit light due to interactions with their environment. The neutron star discussed in the article is likely taking in matter from a separate junk pile, which explains the significant orbit it exhibits. Overall, the episode focuses on debunking the sensationalized headline and highlighting the importance of interpreting science journalism critically.