Quark Matter Discovered in Neutron Stars

Recent supercomputer analysis suggests that the largest neutron stars likely have a core of a different state of matter called cold quark matter, rather than compressed neutrons. This finding, published in Nature Communications, indicates an 80 to 90% chance of the existence of this quark matter. Neutron stars are incredibly dense and heavy, packing the mass of two suns into a 20 kilometer-wide object. The extreme pressure in a neutron star causes the fusion of protons and electrons into neutrons. While the core of neutron stars has been a topic of debate, this new research suggests the presence of cold quark matter. Understanding the composition of neutron stars contributes to our knowledge of the universe's most dense matter.