Dead star proves vacuum isn't empty

This report details how NASA’s IXPE mission likely confirmed a 90-year-old quantum physics theory through the study of a magnetar, an incredibly dense star with an immense magnetic field. By coordinating X-ray and radio measurements, researchers observed a phenomenon known as vacuum birefringence, where the empty space around the star acts as a prism to filter light. The extreme polarization levels detected in the star's emissions cannot be explained by standard models, suggesting that quantum electrodynamics governs the behavior of reality in these intense environments. These findings demonstrate that neutron stars serve as unique natural laboratories for testing physical laws that are impossible to replicate in a terrestrial setting.