{
  "id": 5979181,
  "title": "'Quiet' pulsar suddenly reveals three glitches in 15 years of observations",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/quiet-pulsar-suddenly-reveals-three-glitches-in-15-years-of",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-06T12:40:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Phys.org",
    "slug": "phys-org",
    "url": "https://phys.org/news/2026-09-quiet-pulsar-suddenly-reveals-glitches.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a 15-year period of observations, astronomers have discovered three rotational glitches in the young neutron star PSR J1637−4642, which remained quiet for over a decade after its discovery. These glitches, detected using the Murriyang radio telescope, include one with a significant rotation rate change of nearly 3 parts per million. PSR J1637−4642, an extremely young pulsar, spins once every 154 milliseconds and is known for exhibiting complex timing behavior. Researchers believe the glitches result from a sudden transfer of angular momentum from the superfluid inside the star to its solid crust. The first glitch occurred around 2018, followed by two smaller ones at later intervals. After the first glitch, the pulsar's rotation rate gradually relaxed over time, suggesting about 1.9% of its moment of inertia is linked to the superfluid material in its inner crust. This discovery highlights that even quiet pulsars can show significant glitch activity, with the long period of silence before the first glitch potentially indicating a buildup of stress over many years.",
  "summary": "Using more than 15 years of observations from the Parkes radio telescope, astronomers detected three rotational glitches in the pulsar PSR J1637−4642—a young neutron star that had shown no signs of glitches since its discovery. The three glitches included one that changed its rotation rate by nearly 3 parts per million. Their paper was posted to the arXiv preprint server on Aug. 20. It has been…",
  "key_points": [
    "Three rotational glitches detected in 15-year observations of PSR J1637−4642.",
    "First glitch occurred around 2018, followed by two smaller ones later.",
    "Glitches result from angular momentum transfer from superfluid to solid crust."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}