Quark Stars: Exotic Matter on the Edge of Physics

Quark stars are hypothetical objects denser than neutron stars but not quite black holes.
They may form when neutrons in a collapsing star break down into free quarks.
If real, they’d be made of strange quark matter—particles normally confined inside protons and neutrons.
A quark star would be only about 10–20 kilometers wide but weigh more than the Sun.
Their surfaces could be so dense and smooth that atoms themselves can’t survive there.
They might explain puzzling pulsars that shine brighter or spin differently than neutron stars.
Some scientists think they could form after especially massive supernovae.
Quark stars would represent a new state of matter, never seen on Earth.
They remain unconfirmed, with only indirect hints suggesting they might exist.
If discovered, quark stars would push physics beyond today’s theories of matter and gravity.