pieces. Although the mechanism by which momentum is lost is not well understood, astronomers believe that in many cases a stellar wind blows particles from the star. It is this hot stellar wind that produces x-rays. 
    The area shown in this image has been nicknamed the “x-ray Christmas tree” because the protostars here are highly variable in x-ray wavelength and appear to blink on and off. The blinking— coupled with radio observations— indicates that there may be surface activity similar to earthquakes on the protostars. These “starquakes”— flares, eruptions, and other strange behavior on the stars’ surface—may be induced by strong magnetic currents.