
Astronomy Cast’s episode 785, hosted by Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay, dives into magnetars—highly magnetized neutron stars whose fields can reach 10^15 gauss. The hosts recount the 2004 giant gamma‑ray flare that exposed the destructive power of these stellar remnants. Listeners get a clear overview of magnetar formation, observed phenomena, and lingering mysteries. The episode also acknowledges its Patreon supporters who help fund the show.

Astronomy Cast episode 784, released Feb 16, 2026, features hosts Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay exploring how pulsars—dead, rapidly rotating stars—function as precise cosmic clocks. The show explains that pulsar timing enables detection of nanohertz gravitational waves, autonomous spacecraft...