Einstein detects strange object

Astronomers have uncovered the cause of mysterious periodic eruptions from the protostar V347 Aurigae, linking them to a companion brown dwarf that orbits it every 155 days. This failed star, significantly less massive than the protostar, destabilizes the accretion disc, leading to luminous outbursts. In a separate discovery, the Chinese Einstein Probe has detected a transient celestial object, EP240408a, which exhibited an intense X-ray flare that increased in brightness by 300 times for just 12 seconds. This event, believed to represent a new type of astronomical phenomenon, poses challenges for detection by other telescopes due to its brief duration. Scientists suggest that studying such phenomena could enhance our understanding of extreme cosmic processes. The Einstein Probe, operational since January 2024, has already identified numerous transient events, indicating its potential for significant contributions to astrophysics.