Metal scar suggests star ‘ate’ nearby planets

Astronomers have discovered a metal-rich scar around a distant star, suggesting that it may have consumed nearby planets in its early formation. The star, known as HD 107146, is located roughly 85 light-years from Earth and is estimated to be around 100 million years old.

The discovery of the metal-rich scar was made using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile. The scar is believed to be the remnants of planets or other rocky bodies that were torn apart and consumed by the star during its formation.

This finding sheds light on the violent and chaotic process of planet formation, as well as the potential for stars to ‘eat’ their neighboring planets. It also raises questions about the prevalence of such events in the universe and the impact they may have on the evolution of planetary systems.