Einstein’s general relativity reveals new features of a pulsar

Astronomers get a novel look at the beams of radio waves emitted by a pulsating dead star

pulsar orbiting neutron star

A quirk of Einstein’s general theory of relativity let astronomers map the beams of radio waves emitted by a type of neutron star called a pulsar. The pulsar orbits with another neutron star (illustrated).

Joeri van Leeuwen/ASTRON, CC BY-SA

Finally, scientists have their finger on the pulse.