{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='NASA\u0026#39;s NICER Tests Matter\u0026#39;s Limits' data-url='/boclips/videos/6280e915fb8c7654f212f000' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/6280e915fb8c7654f212f000' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nNASA\u0026#39;s NICER Tests Matter\u0026#39;s Limits\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"384398\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=384398\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\"\u003eNASA\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eMatter in the hearts of neutron stars – dense remnants of exploded massive stars – takes the most extreme form we can measure. Now, thanks to data from NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), an X-ray telescope on the...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eMatter in the hearts of neutron stars – dense remnants of exploded massive stars – takes the most extreme form we can measure. Now, thanks to data from NASA’s Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer (NICER), an X-ray telescope on the International Space Station, scientists have discovered that this mysterious matter is less squeezable than some physicists predicted. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThe finding is based on NICER’s observations of PSR J0740+6620 (J0740 for short), the most massive known neutron star, which lies over 3,600 light-years away in the northern constellation Camelopardalis. Previous observations place the neutron star’s mass at about 2.1 times the Sun’s. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eAt a neutron star’s surface, an atmosphere of hydrogen or helium rests on an iron crust. A mile or so down is the outer core, where atoms brake down into their building blocks: neutrons, protons, and electrons. Here, the immense pressure has crushed together protons and electrons to form a sea of mostly neutrons – packed together at up to twice the density of an atomic nucleus. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eBut what form does matter take in the inner core? Is it neutrons all the way down, or do the neutrons break into their own component parts, called quarks? \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eIn traditional models of a typical neutron star, one with about 1.4 times the Sun’s mass, physicists expect the inner core to be mostly filled with neutrons. The lower density ensures that neutrons remain far enough apart to stay intact, and this inner stiffness results in a larger star. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eIn more massive neutron stars like J0740, the inner core’s density is much higher, crushing the neutrons closer together. It’s unclear whether neutrons can remain intact under these conditions or if they instead break down into their constituent parts, called quarks. Theorists suspect they shatter under the pressure, but many questions about the details remain. To get answers, scientists need a precise size measurement for a massive neutron star. A smaller star would favor scenarios where quarks roam freely at the innermost depths because the tinier particles can be packed more closely. A larger star would suggest the presence of more complex forms of matter. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eTwo teams used different approaches to model J0740’s size, getting results of around 15.4 miles (24.8 kilometers) and 17 miles (27.4 kilometers) across. The two results overlap significantly within their uncertainties, ranging from 14.2 to 17 miles (22.8 to 27.4 kilometers) and 15.2 to 20 miles (24.4 to 32.6 kilometers), respectively. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eThe J0740 result, combined with a previous NICER measurement of pulsar J0030+0451 and other multimessenger observations disfavor more squeezable models of neutron stars, including versions where the interior is a sea of quarks. J0740’s mass and size also pose problems for less squeezable models, which tend to be very neutron-rich. \u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eRecent theoretical models propose some alternatives, such as inner cores containing a mix of neutrons, protons, and exotic matter made of quarks or new combinations of quarks. Future observations will help physicists narrow the possibilities even further.\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eMusic: \"Question Time\" from Universal Production Music\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003eVideo credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center\u003cbr/\u003eScott Wiessinger (USRA): Producer\u003cbr/\u003eJeanette Kazmierczak (University of Maryland College Park): Lead Science Writer\u003cbr/\u003eChris Smith (USRA): Producer\u003cbr/\u003eChris Smith (USRA): Lead Animator\u003cbr/\u003eBarb Mattson (University of Maryland College Park): Narrator\u003cbr/\u003eZaven Arzoumanian (NASA/GSFC): Science Advisor\u003cbr/\u003eSharon Morsink (University of Alberta): Visualizer\u003cbr/\u003eScott Wiessinger (USRA): Animator\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e\u003cbr/\u003e \u003cbr/\u003e \u003cbr/\u003e​\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read 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class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=249\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=250\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=251\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=365221\"\u003eScience\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e5 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=249\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=250\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=251\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=252\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=253\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=254\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=255\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=256\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=257\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543647\"\u003eInstructional Videos\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='preview-source' data-animation='true' data-boundary='.rp-info' data-container='.rp-resource-details' data-html='false' data-title='NASA\u0026#39;s Goddard Space Flight Center is home to the nation\u0026#39;s largest organization of combined scientists, engineers and technologists that build spacecraft, instruments and new technology to study Earth, the sun, our solar system and the universe.' data-trigger='hover focus'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eNASA Goddard\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-circle-info channel-tooltip-icon' id='channel-tooltip'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2021\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eLanguage\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003eEnglish\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca 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fa-solid fa-lock'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"text-muted\" title=\"Video Preview\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003eVideo Preview\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6280e915fb8c7654f212f000' data-type='concepts'\u003ematter, nasa, particles, objects, neutrons, scientists, mass, center, density, stars\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6280e915fb8c7654f212f000'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6280e915fb8c7654f212f000' data-type='keyterms'\u003egoddard space flight center, international space station, nicer, neutron, neutron star, scott wiessinger, x-ray, black hole, squeezable models, measure, star, squeezable, models, form, core, pulsars, massive, larger, distortion, measurements, deeper, pulsar, heart, collapse, compress, result\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator6280e915fb8c7654f212f000'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton 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