US scientists spot potential afterglow from merger of 2 neutron stars

US scientists spot potential afterglow from merger of 2 neutron stars

• By Staff Writer

US scientists detected a potential afterglow from a kilonova, which occurs after two neutron stars merge to create a massive explosion. Originally detected by scientists in 2017, the blast formed a jet of high-energy particles which were replaced by X-rays in 2020. Researchers believed heated debris from the merger created a shock generating X-ray emissions, known as kilonova afterglow.