Scientists have discovered a new cosmic object that is surprisingly lighter than the smallest black hole and more massive than the heaviest neutron star. The mysterious object was spotted in our Milky Way galaxy, which was found at a site 40,000 light years away from Earth.&nbsp;

The discovery has baffled astronomers who are studying the differentiation between a neutron star and a black hole, both of which are born when a massive star dies.&nbsp;

The object was first detected inside a dense globule of stars named NGC 1851, using the MeerKAT Radio Telescope. The findings of the new cosmic object were published on January 18 in the journal Science.

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<h2>Newly found cosmic object falls within a neutron star and a black hole&nbsp;</h2>

Researchers suggest that the new object falls within the historical “mass gap” between black holes and neutron stars. This means it can be either of the one.&nbsp;

"Either possibility for the nature of the companion is exciting," lead author Ben Stappers, a professor of astrophysics at The University of Manchester in the UK, said in a statement.&nbsp;

"A pulsar-black hole system will be an important target for testing theories of gravity and a heavy neutron star will provide new insights in nuclear physics at very high densities."

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Both black holes and neutron stars are corpses of massive dead stars that die in violent explosions called supernovas.

Though both are born in the same way, these objects are poles apart when it comes to their internal wiring and masses. But the lightest black hole and the heaviest neutron star can look similar from far away, which is why scientists have yet to declare their verdict.

For most of astronomy's history, scientists could only spot neutron stars as heavy as twice the mass of the sun and black holes as light as five solar masses, leaving everything in between a mystery.&nbsp;

The gap between the two, known as the mass gap, was finally crossed in 2019 when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected space-time ripples indicative of a light black hole or heavy neutron star falling somewhere between the two.&nbsp;

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What the object could be a massive neutron star the lightest black hole, or maybe some other exotic star husk, is still unclear. The researchers are still probing what could help uncover this mystery.&nbsp;

"Uncovering the true nature of the companion will be a turning point in our understanding of neutron stars, black holes, and whatever else might be lurking in the black hole mass gap", said co-author Arunima Dutta, a doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany.

(With inputs from agencies)

Scientists have discovered a new cosmic object that is surprisingly lighter than the smallest black hole and more massive than the heaviest neutron star. The mysterious object was spotted in our Milky Way galaxy, which was found at a site 40,000 light years away from Earth.

Scientists have discovered a new cosmic object that is surprisingly lighter than the smallest black hole and more massive than the heaviest neutron star. The mysterious object was spotted in our Milky Way galaxy, which was found at a site 40,000 light years away from Earth. The discovery has baffled astronomers who are studying the differentiation between a neutron star and a black hole, both of which are born when a massive star dies. The object was first detected inside a dense globule of stars named NGC 1851, using the MeerKAT Radio Telescope. The findings of the new cosmic object were published on January 18 in the journal Science. Also Read | Mars equator hiding giant slabs of ice with enough water to cover the entire planet Newly found cosmic object falls within a neutron star and a black hole Researchers suggest that the new object falls within the historical “mass gap” between black holes and neutron stars. This means it can be either of the one. "Either possibility for the nature of the companion is exciting," lead author Ben Stappers, a professor of astrophysics at The University of Manchester in the UK, said in a statement. "A pulsar-black hole system will be an important target for testing theories of gravity and a heavy neutron star will provide new insights in nuclear physics at very high densities." Also Read | Can pig livers help humans with liver failure? THIS experiment raises hopes for animal-to-human transplants Both black holes and neutron stars are corpses of massive dead stars that die in violent explosions called supernovas. Though both are born in the same way, these objects are poles apart when it comes to their internal wiring and masses. But the lightest black hole and the heaviest neutron star can look similar from far away, which is why scientists have yet to declare their verdict. For most of astronomy's history, scientists could only spot neutron stars as heavy as twice the mass of the sun and black holes as light as five solar masses, leaving everything in between a mystery. The gap between the two, known as the mass gap, was finally crossed in 2019 when the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detected space-time ripples indicative of a light black hole or heavy neutron star falling somewhere between the two. Also Read | Astrobotic loses contact with Peregrine lunar lander What the object could be a massive neutron star the lightest black hole, or maybe some other exotic star husk, is still unclear. The researchers are still probing what could help uncover this mystery. "Uncovering the true nature of the companion will be a turning point in our understanding of neutron stars, black holes, and whatever else might be lurking in the black hole mass gap", said co-author Arunima Dutta, a doctoral student at the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy in Bonn, Germany. (With inputs from agencies)

Lightest black hole or heaviest neutron star? This object 40,000 light years away could be either

While team mapping radio waves in the universe, astronomers have come across a mysterious object that is releasing giant bursts of energy three times an hour, as per a study published on Wednesday (January 26) in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04272-x.epdf?sharing_token=g0qDpzHgeaSaA6mUmwx649RgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0Of-uh9vqemKMq6w79pifdqdaY5xxIT2ZG7_2UyUWitYHtn2nWAH0KN9KVH1ZPtBPDePVfuAa1sz-qkpQHRO8lx4QaBnNSzyWapSmBR_chuTr1cSMqeS7wZGcpJ86k4qrPi673QqygyKuCUQdEXkI5ouo3YZQhKAoAFYVlm3I-I4ac24yAbE3svoj_w8xA8-_5zWSQOVishTx_VUR2a3fp-8dQY3APRD7IW2SmarKahJk-fpdNXg_aMYoCtzMP2RoiUhT6-w-n_GGFP57eM0LKh&amp;tracking_referrer=edition.cnn.com">Nature</a>.

It is being termed as unlike anything astronomers have seen before but the team that discovered the celestial object believe it could be a neutron star or a white dwarf with an ultra-powerful magnetic field.&nbsp;

As per the astronomers, the strange object, which appeared to be spinning around in space, sends out a beam of radiation that crosses our line of sight, and for a minute in every twenty. The published study claimed it to be one of the brightest radio sources in the sky.

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Astrophysicist Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, who is from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, led the team.&nbsp;

"This object was appearing and disappearing over a few hours during our observations. That was completely unexpected. It was kind of spooky for an astronomer because there's nothing known in the sky that does that. And it's really quite close to us -- about 4000 lightyears away. It's in our galactic backyard," she said.&nbsp;

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A student named&nbsp;Tyrone O'Doherty from Curtin University discovered the object by using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope in outback Western Australia. He also used a new technique developed by him.

O'Doherty, who is now studying for a PhD at Curtin, said, "It's exciting that the source I identified last year has turned out to be such a peculiar object."

"The MWA's wide field of view and extreme sensitivity are perfect for surveying the entire sky and detecting the unexpected," he added.&nbsp;

While team mapping radio waves in the universe, astronomers have come across a mysterious object that is releasing giant bursts of energy three times an hour, as per a study published on Wednesday (January 26) in the journal Nature.

While team mapping radio waves in the universe, astronomers have come across a mysterious object that is releasing giant bursts of energy three times an hour, as per a study published on Wednesday (January 26) in the journal Nature. It is being termed as unlike anything astronomers have seen before but the team that discovered the celestial object believe it could be a neutron star or a white dwarf with an ultra-powerful magnetic field. As per the astronomers, the strange object, which appeared to be spinning around in space, sends out a beam of radiation that crosses our line of sight, and for a minute in every twenty. The published study claimed it to be one of the brightest radio sources in the sky. ALSO READ | Out-of-control rocket by Elon Musk's SpaceX puts India's Chandrayaan in danger Astrophysicist Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, who is from the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, led the team. "This object was appearing and disappearing over a few hours during our observations. That was completely unexpected. It was kind of spooky for an astronomer because there's nothing known in the sky that does that. And it's really quite close to us -- about 4000 lightyears away. It's in our galactic backyard," she said. ALSO READ | This ice moon, which resembles the Death Star from Star Wars, could be hospitable to life A student named Tyrone O'Doherty from Curtin University discovered the object by using the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) telescope in outback Western Australia. He also used a new technique developed by him. O'Doherty, who is now studying for a PhD at Curtin, said, "It's exciting that the source I identified last year has turned out to be such a peculiar object." "The MWA's wide field of view and extreme sensitivity are perfect for surveying the entire sky and detecting the unexpected," he added.

Astronomers discover mysterious object in space that releases giant bursts of energy three times an hour

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Lightest black hole or heaviest neutron star? This object 40,000 light years away could be either

Astronomers discover mysterious object in space that releases giant bursts of energy three times an hour