Pulsars are among the most exotic objects in the universe. They resemble gigantic atomic nuclei and rotate around their own axis at an incredible speed. These cosmic beacons mark the end of massive suns. Theoretically predicted in the 1930s, they were discovered three decades later by a young astronomer – purely by chance.
What does it mean? They cannot be produced by humans, because the signals always return when the mysterious transmitter – caused by the apparent daily rotation of the sky – moves past the stationary telescope. There are two possible options: either the pulses originate from an astronomical object – but from which one? - or from an alien civilization that is trying to communicate with Earth! And in fact Bell and her doctoral supervisor Anthony Hewish call the mysterious signal Little Green Man.
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