Which statement about pulsars is not thought to be true?

Pulsars are highly magnetized, rotating neutron stars that emit beams of electromagnetic radiation, typically observed as pulses of energy. They are indeed remnants of supernova explosions, where the core of a massive star collapses under gravity to form a neutron star if the original star exceeds a certain mass threshold.

The statement regarding pulsars forming only in close binary systems is not accurate. While some pulsars may exist in binary systems where they can interact with a companion star, many pulsars are solitary objects that do not require a binary companion for their formation. The formation of pulsars is primarily related to the conditions present during the supernova event, which can happen in various environments, not exclusively within binary systems.

The other statements regarding pulsars are accurate. Pulsars have extremely stable rotation periods, making them some of the most precise timekeeping objects known in the universe. They emit beams of radiation along their magnetic poles, and we only detect these beams when they sweep past Earth, leading to the characteristic pulsing effect. Therefore, the claim that pulsars can only form in close binary systems correctly identifies a misconception about their formation and existence.