## A record-breaking X-ray flash may reveal the birth of a magnetar ## A mysterious X-ray flash lasting nearly 10 minutes may have revealed the birth of a magnetar after two neutron stars collided. Astronomers have long relied on brief bursts of gamma rays to identify collisions between neutron stars. These flashes can vanish in less than two seconds. Now, new research suggests that some neutron star mergers may also produce X-ray flashes that remain visible for several minutes. A study published in Science Bulletin presents strong evidence for that connection. The findings raise the…