Astronomy Cast Ep. 785: Magnetars
3/9/202630 min
Astronomy Cast Ep. 785: Magnetars By Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live March 6, 2026. Magnetars are a special type of neutron star with physics that defy comprehension. Magnetic fields so powerful they could strip you apart at an atomic level. But, where do they come from? So many mysteries to uncover about magnetars. Back in December 2004, a gamma rays washed out cameras and zotted satellites as a star on the other side of the Milky Way shifted around its magnetic fields. Magnetars are violent that way. In this episode of Astronomy Cast, Fraser and Pamela take on this tiny terrible monsters...
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First 90 secondsFraser Cain· Host0:00
[upbeat music] Astronomy Cast, episode 785: Magnetars. Welcome to Astronomy Cast, our weekly facts-based journey through the cosmos, where we help you understand not only what we know, but how we know what we know. I'm Fraser Cain. I'm the publisher of Universe Today. With me, as always, is Dr. Pamela Gay, a senior scientist for the Planetary Science Institute and the director of CosmoQuest. Hey, Pamela. How you doing?
Pamela Gay· Host1:09
I, I am doing well. I, I've had the weirdest two weeks, and I caught COVID for the first time.
Fraser Cain· Host1:17
Oh, no. How are you feeling?
Pamela Gay· Host1:20
[sighs] I, I'm still snuffly, and I'm not convinced it isn't allergies, 'cause I've been snuffly for a month, and I haven't had COVID for- Yeah, but you did test- I did.
Fraser Cain· Host1:28
Yeah, but you did test positive for COVID.