An axion cloud around a neutron star (IMAGE) Universiteit van Amsterdam Caption An axion cloud around a neutron star. While some axions escape the star’s gravitational pull, many remain bound to the star and over a long period of time form a cloud surrounding it. The interaction with the neutron star’s strong magnetic field causes some axions to convert into photons – light that we can eventually detect with our telescopes on Earth. Credit University of Amsterdam Usage Restrictions Free to use in the context of this study License Original content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.