{"id":499595,"date":"2026-08-06T04:49:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T18:49:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/missions\/ixpe\/nasas-ixpe-may-have-proven-90-year-old-theory\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T04:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T18:49:14","slug":"nasas-ixpe-may-have-proven-90-year-old-theory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=499595","title":{"rendered":"NASA\u2019s IXPE May Have Proven 90-Year-Old Theory"},"content":{"rendered":"
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4 min read<\/p>\n

NASA\u2019s IXPE May Have Proven 90-Year-Old Theory<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A first of its kind measurement of a magnetar may have captured empty space behaving in a way physicists have predicted for 90 years, but never directly observed. The results published Wednesday in Nature<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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This artist\u2019s concept depicts magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408, a rapidly rotating neutron star with magnetic fields over a trillion times stronger than Earth\u2019s. Blue curves emanating from the star\u2019s two magnetic poles represent the magnetic field lines. The magnetar is a significant emitter of radio and X-ray radiation, with their peaks offset during its 2.1-second rotation period. This indicates the primary X-ray emitter is a secondary \u201chot spot\u201d offset from the magnetic axis. These emitters are depicted as conical sections: the lighter blue radio emission peaks at the magnetic field\u2019s symmetry axis, while the darker blue X-ray emission peaks below. The upper and lower emission cones show X-ray polarization degrees of 40% and 80%, respectively. These high values, along with smooth, coherent variations in polarization across the rotation period, provide the most definitive signal to date of vacuum birefringence a long-sought prediction of quantum electrodynamics.<\/div>\n
NASA\/Pablo Garcia<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Fast facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n