Pulsars are rapidly spinning objects with massive amounts of radiation coming from them, but how do they form?

A massive star collapses, and then forms a neutron star. If there exists a tilt between the axis of rotation of the star and the magnetic poles, then the rotation of the neutron star causes the magnetic pole (which directs the flow of observable radiation such as x rays and gamma rays) to move about much like a lighthouse. If the pulsar's magnetic field's path sweeps pass us, then we can observe it.