The cosmic ‘Cow’ may have produced a new neutron star or black hole

A mysterious burst of extragalactic light appears to have spawned a small, compact object

image of the dwarf galaxy CGCG 137-068

The cosmic burst known as the Cow came from this dwarf galaxy, called CGCG 137-068, located about 200 million light-years from Earth.

R. MARGUTTI/W. M. KECK OBSERVATORY

A cosmic flare-up called the Cow seems to have left behind a black hole or neutron star.