Astronomers Uncover Hidden Neutron Stars Orbiting Sun-like Stars

Using Gaia mission data, researchers identified 21 neutron stars by their gravitational effects alone, revealing rare binary systems.

The European Space Agency's Gaia mission detected wobbles in Sun-like stars caused by orbiting neutron stars.
These neutron stars are dormant, not actively drawing mass from their companions, making them extremely faint.
The discovery challenges existing models of binary star formation and survival after supernova explosions.
Most of the newly detected systems are within 3,000 light-years of Earth, a relatively short distance in cosmic terms.
The research highlights gaps in understanding binary star evolution, with further studies needed to piece together their formation.