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imdfantom t1_iviyawf wrote

Reply to comment by humaniteer in Bizarre star may have a solid surface, according to X-ray observations. Astronomers have now spotted a super strange one that seems to have a solid surface. Its intense magnetic field is strong enough to overcome its blistering temperatures and “freeze” its outer layers into a solid crust. by MistWeaver80

So, they're saying that the outer surface could be made of charged particles.

These charged particles are like little magnets (not really but for the purpose of this explanation it works).

The strong magnetic field (from inside the star) fixes these tiny "magnets" in place. Kind of like how iron filings are pushed into specific shapes when exposed to a magnet.

The effect is so strong that the ions act in ways similar to a solid (ie not much movement of particles).

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