December 01, 2021
Researchers from Durham University, UK, have noticed a white dwarf star switching on and off at the shortest time duration ever—30 minutes. They used a planet-hunting satellite to observe the unique phenomenon in a white dwarf about 1,400 light-years from Earth. Astronomers saw the star lose brightness in 30 minutes, a process that was earlier known to last for several days or months. Their research also showed that this white dwarf star is feeding off an orbiting companion star. This is what gives the star its brightness. White dwarfs are stars that burn off all the hydrogen that fuels them.
Did You Know?
About 97% of all Milky Way stars will become white dwarfs.
