STONKS: How XMM-Newton is Finding Faint Transients
Published: January 30, 2026
Duration: 14:41
In this episode, we explore the dynamic and violent universe revealed by the STONKS pipeline (Search for Transient Object in New observations using Known Sources). While the name might remind you of internet finance memes, this system is a serious tool for the XMM-Newton space telescope. We discuss how researchers are using STONKS to detect long-term X-ray transients in the Galactic plane that are too faint for standard wide-field survey instruments to see.
Join us as we break down the first results from a multi-year survey of the Galaxy, identifying 70 astrophysical sources that change...