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One of these twin stars has likely been snacking on exoplanets

A team of 14 researchers from the United States and Chile identified a subgiant star that likely ate one of its planets. The star, TOI-5882, displays an unusually high concentration of lithium. This chemical signature suggests the star consumed planetary material.

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What changed

The star is identified as TOI-5882 and the specific chemical marker is revealed as lithium.

Live updates

  1. Subgiant star TOI-5882 showed evidence of consuming a planet

    A team of 14 researchers from the United States and Chile identified a subgiant star that likely ate one of its planets. The star, TOI-5882, displays an unusually high concentration of lithium. This chemical signature suggests the star consumed planetary material.

    What's confirmed:

    • A team of 14 researchers from the United States and Chile found evidence of a subgiant star eating one of its planets.
    • The star is named TOI-5882.
    • An unusually high concentration of lithium in the star indicates it may have consumed a planet.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • A brown dwarf called TOI-5882 b may have pushed a planet into the star.
    • The star is located 1,300 light-years away.
    confidence 90%

  2. Binary Star TOI-5882 Likely Consumed Exoplanets

    Astronomers found chemical differences between two stars in a binary system. One star shows evidence of devouring at least one planet. The discovery relies on unusual chemical variations between the twins.

    What's confirmed:

    • Astronomers identified chemical differences between binary stars indicating one consumed a planet.
    • One star in a binary system likely devoured at least one exoplanet.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • The star TOI-5882 has more lithium in its outer layers than expected for its life stage.
    • The system is located approximately 1,200 light-years from Earth.
    confidence 80%

  3. Binary Star System HD 81809 Likely Consumed Exoplanets

    Astronomers have identified a binary star system where one twin star likely consumed exoplanets. This discovery was based on an unusual chemical difference between the two stars. The system is located approximately 1,200 light-years from Earth.

    Still unconfirmed:

    • One star in the HD 81809 binary system likely consumed exoplanets.
    • The binary system is located approximately 1,200 light-years from Earth.
    • A study published in Nature Astronomy in July 2024 suggests the planetary consumption.
    • Robert Lea stated that this is the first binary system found with this specific chemical difference.
    • The XMM Newton space telescope observed the star system HD 81809.
    confidence 60%