# The neutron star teaspoon example

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 16, 2010, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864 "2010-11-16T15:48:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864/21 "2010-11-16T21:33:39Z")

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> [@Colophon](#):
>
> Maybe try a spork?

I’m thinking a ladle.

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**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864/22 "2010-11-16T21:51:00Z")

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When I asked this [8 years ago,](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=125234) the concensus of **Chronos** et al, was that you’d end up under a pile of iron. IIRC, **Chronos** was a graduate student back then. Maybe he’s learned otherwise since then.

Nars Glinley - The Doper formerly known as KRM

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864/23 "2010-11-17T04:35:07Z")

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Well, I’m now more confident in my SWAG that it’d revert to iron, but it would take some really complicated calculations to be sure, and I’m not actually certain that anyone has ever done those calculations. It’s hard enough to find, say, the equation of state of this stuff when it’s _not_ exploding.

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**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864/24 "2010-11-17T08:57:56Z")

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It should be noted that in an atmosphere, evaporating neutronium has a [distinctive sound](http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-11-04)…

In a vacuum, it’s just another [radioactive lightshow](http://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-11-08)

Si

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864/25 "2010-11-17T12:34:16Z")

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> [@Colophon](#):
>
> Maybe try a spork?

Titanium or polycarbonate?  
Though I’d really want adamantium or, preferably, unobtainium (assuming a sufficient quantity could be, umm, obtained).

But really, the only utensil with the required tensile strength is, of course, a runcible spoon.

CMC fnord!

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**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-neutron-star-teaspoon-example/560864/26 "2010-11-17T15:02:40Z")

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> [@Kinthalis](#):
>
> Crap!
> 
> Don’t worry guys I’m calling off the experiment. At least until I can convince someone else to hold the spoon.

PM me. I could suggest some people.

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