Einstein Probe Detects 10‑Minute Soft X‑Ray Glow After Neutron‑Star Merger

The Einstein Probe satellite captured nearly ten minutes of soft X‑ray emission following a short gamma‑ray burst, a signal that had eluded earlier observatories. This extended glow, likely powered by a nascent magnetar, reveals a previously hidden phase of neutron‑star collisions. The discovery offers a new electromagnetic counterpart to gravitational‑wave detections, potentially improving localization and timing of such cataclysmic events. By extending the observable window beyond the prompt burst, the probe enhances our ability to study the physics of merger remnants and the birth of magnetars.