Astronomy current events question: neutron star merger brightening

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2018
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Daryl Haggard and Chris Chipello, "Neutron-Star Merger Yields New Puzzle for Astrophysicists" (January 18, 2018)
chandra.harvard.edu/press/18_releases/press_011818.html

NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory recorded light from the merger of the two neutron stars GW170817/GRB170817A that appears to be unexpectedly:
(A) lacking neutrinos.
(B) cold.
(C) distorting space-time.
(D) brightening over time.
(E) made of antimatter.

Correct answer: (D)

Student responses
Sections 30679, 30680
(A) : 2 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 3 students
(D) : 31 students
(E) : 2 students