Grab a teaspoon of neutron star core. Teleport it into Earth's atmosphere. What would happen? (kbin.social)

submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by Damaskox@kbin.social to c/ELI5@kbin.social

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I believe the density chances quickly to match Earth's pressure.

But what else? Will it release energy enough to blow Earth up? Will its mass create some kind of an apocalyptical event?

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[-] sun_is_ra@sh.itjust.works 1 points 11 months ago

it will not be an explosion per se but more of an intense neutron radiation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_radiation

It is a health hazard because when it hits atoms it could potentially make it radio active. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_radiation

[-] WHYAREWEALLCAPS@kbin.social 1 points 11 months ago

Close. Everyone forgets that a neutron star is held together by gravity. Take a bit away and that bit will fall apart. Rapidly. Very, very, very rapidly. Like significant fraction of c rapidly. Imagine Mt. Everest suddenly flying apart at a significant fraction of c.

[-] Damaskox@kbin.social 1 points 11 months ago

So this event would basically radiate life to death?

[-] PositiveNoise@kbin.social 1 points 11 months ago

You mean like....ALL life on Earth? From a single teaspoon full? I doubt it. Would it kill the drunk camper who picks it up and decides to use it to keep his sleeping bag warm? Maybe.

[-] snooggums@kbin.social 6 points 11 months ago

That teaspoon of neutron star material weighs a few million tons and should instantly expand without the gravitational pressure of the star.

this post was submitted on 17 Nov 2023

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Explain it to me like I am 5. Everybody should know what this is about.

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