By Randolph E. Schmid
Washington - Ordinary computers are being credited with finding a previously unknown neutron star.
Nearly a quarter-million people around the globe take part in a program known as Einstein@Home, which uses idle time on their computers to analyse masses of scientific data.
The fast-spinning neutron star - named PSR J2007+2722 - was discovered in a study of data collected by the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico.
A report on Thursday in the online version of the journal Science, called Science Express, says the find was first recorded June 11 on the computer of Chris and Helen Colvin of Ames, Iowa.
It was confirmed three days later on the computer of Daniel Gebhardt of Mainz, Germany. - Sapa-AP