Is empty space really empty? Magnetic star data solves 90-year-old quantum mystery
Astronomers studying the ultra-magnetic dead star 1E 1547-5408 have uncovered the strongest evidence yet for vacuum birefringence, a quantum phenomenon first proposed 90 years ago. Utilizing data from NASA’s IXPE observatory and international radio telescopes collected between March and April 2025, researchers confirmed that extreme magnetic fields can alter the properties of a vacuum, causing … Read more