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Grab a teaspoon of neutron star core. Teleport it into Earth's atmosphere. What would happen? (kbin.social)

submitted 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) by Damaskox@kbin.social to c/ELI5@kbin.social

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I believe the density chances quickly to match Earth's pressure.

But what else? Will it release energy enough to blow Earth up? Will its mass create some kind of an apocalyptical event?

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[–] WHYAREWEALLCAPS@kbin.social 3 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (2 children)

Gimme yer socks. Neutrons stars are composed of ... wait for it ... neutrons! Hence the name. The gravity is so intense that pretty much all electrons and protons have been smashed together to form neutrons. Any molecule with a mass of hydrogen or greater has been ripped apart and turned into neutrons.

[–] admiralteal@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

There is a thin veneer of elemental matter -- I think plasma iron (edit: close -- it is degenerate iron plasma frozen into a crystal lattice) -- on the crust of the star, it is theorized.

But once you're in the creamy center, you're dealing with shit that does not fit on a periodic table. The stuff that neutron stars are made of is not molecular in any sense that you know it.

I enjoy the theoretical nuclear pasta and nuclear lasagna of crystalized neutron matter.

And some of the biggest ones may not even be neutrons anymore. The math predicts stuff like strange stars -- exotic quark plasma -- as we approach the physical limits before collapse into a singularity.

Here's the relevant PBS SpaceTime episode.

[–] Damaskox@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

exotic quark plasma

Oh cool! What do we know about it?

[–] admiralteal@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Once again I recommend a PBS SpaceTime video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4RNGRyzt10

Short answer: we only know theoretical stuff and, frankly, probably won't know anything non-theoretical for a VERY long time if ever because creating this kind of matter kind of requires a neutron star.

[–] Damaskox@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago

I remember that (if any other thing about the environment didn't kill us) the electric field would squeeze our atoms and make us into dust if we landed on a neutron star!

[–] Damaskox@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago

Oh okay so there are no elements at all. Fascinating!