The likelihood of quark matter cores in huge neutron stars

Within the depths of massive neutron stars lies an realm where matter defies conventional understanding. An international collaborative effort led by researchers from the University of Helsinki has ventured into this cosmic domain, seeking answers to the fundamental question of neutron star cores possibly hosting quark matter.

Neutron stars, remnants of massive stellar explosions, captivate astrophysicists due to their unparalleled densities. Compressed within spheres of merely 25 kilometers in diameter, these astrophysical behemoths contain as much as two solar masses of matter. Their…