A fraction of this energy is expended by the flinging out of radio waves, researchers say. Eventually, the drag created by the whole process causes the star to slow down. But the previous record for slowness in a pulsar was one rotation every 5.1 seconds. This pulsar is on the slab, so to speak, but its heart is still beating. By rights it should be a corpse.
Researchers seem to agree that they have a new phenomenon to explain.
But it is. Or perhaps the pulses are powered by something else. Whatever the case, the theory needs a rethink. This means there could be a lot more slow, old pulsars lurking out there undetected. All space news .