Hello everyone – if you are interested in space, or have a curiosity about space, I would love for you to join me on a journey into the vastness of space and discover a super speedy cosmic object that has been spinning around much faster than many could have imagined. Have you ever heard of PSR J1748-2446ad? No? Get ready to buckle up because this pulsar is definitely one of the fastest spinning objects within the universe.

What makes PSR J1748-2446ad so unique? In 2005, scientists found this pulsar to be an example of a neutron star, which is the extremely compact core of a star after it had exploded as a supernova. While many neutron stars rotate very slowly compared to PSR J1748-2446ad, they are able to rotate at a mind boggling rate of 716 times per second. For reference purposes, that means a rotation cycle of approximately 1.4 milliseconds! When you have spun in circles, you may feel a little dizzy; now try taking that dizziness and compressing it into a mass that is just a few miles wide!

How did it get to rotate so quickly? PSR J1748-2446ad obtained its incredible speed through a process known as “recycling”. The pulsar is part of a binary system where it obtains material (stellar snacks) from its companion star. As the pulsar consumes more stellar material, it increases its rotational speed until it reaches the high speed rates seen today – making it one of the fastest spinning pulsars to be measured to date.

While the rotation speed of PSR J1748-2446ad may be an interesting piece of cosmic trivia, the rotation rates allow scientists to study extreme physical processes that cannot be replicated here on Earth. Scientists studying such pulsars can gain insights into the properties of matter under the influence of both extreme gravity and magnetic fields. Furthermore, such studies provide insight into the limits of Einstein’s theories.

For those that enjoy mixing together a blend of astronomy wonder and scientific inquiry regarding the wonders of our universe, the story of PSR J1748-2446ad is an excellent example of how strange and wondrous our universe can be. The next time you gaze upward at the night sky, remember that somewhere in the universe there exists a small point of light that rotates hundreds of times each second, silently ticking away like the universe’s own cosmic clock.

Thank you for joining me on this weeks journey through the universe! Remember to stay curious, continue to look upwards, and when we meet again, I will introduce you to another cosmic wonder that makes our universe so fascinating to explore. Until then, keep your feet on the ground and your eyes on the stars.