Because a neutron star spins, its magnetic field spins as well, funnelling the star's emissions into a beam. This makes a neutron star rather like a lighthouse. And because a neutron star's beam (consisting of radio waves, X-rays and light) strikes the Earth in regular pulses, neutron stars were first known as pulsars.
When the pulsing emissions of neutron stars were first discovered by scientists at a Cambridge radio telescope, it was thought that they could be signals from intelligent alien life!
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