Pushing the boundaries of space exploration with X-ray polarimetry

The secrets hiding in the vast expanse of outer space have intrigued humankind for ages. The invention of the optical telescope during the 17th century allowed humans to see stars appearing as mere twinkling dots in the night sky. Thanks to scientific innovations over the next four centuries, we can now launch telescopes into space to get a better look at astronomical objects and even study them at wavelengths beyond the visible spectrum. The Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) launched by NASA on 9 December 2021 is one such expedition into the cosmos.