Recycle Your Used Pulsars: Explaining the Extra Gamma-Radiation from the Central Milky Way

Recycle Your Used Pulsars: Explaining the Extra Gamma-Radiation from the Central Milky Way Christopher Britt of the Space Telescope Science Institute Gamma rays, the highest energy light in the electromagnetic spectrum, generally arise from extreme events. For over a decade, NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has mapped these energetic cosmic emissions and helped characterize their sources. A particular conundrum is found in the center of our Milky Way galaxy, which emits significantly more gamma-ray light than can be easily explained. Join us to probe the possible origins of this mysterious gamma radiation, from dark matter to ancient remnants of old dead stars, and explore a method to potentially solve this powerful puzzle. Host: Dr. Frank Summers of the Space Telescope Science Institute Recorded live on Tuesday, June 4, 2019, at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. More information: http://www.stsci.edu/communications-and-outreach/public-outreach/public-lecture-series