Pulsar pulverizes an asteroid
Space rocks disrupt steady beat of dead star 37,000 light-years away
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/cc_pulsar_free.jpg?fit=860%2C460&ssl=1)
OFF BEAT A billion-ton asteroid, seen in this artist’s rendition, is vaporized by the intense radiation of pulsar PSR J0738-4042. The resulting debris cloud wreaks havoc with the pulsar’s steady beat.
JPL-Caltech/NASA