Beryllium signal identifies stars that have swallowed rocky planets
Researchers have developed a new method to identify stars that have consumed nearby rocky planets by measuring beryllium abundance. By comparing binary star systems, scientists found that stars enriched with refractory elements likely engulfed planetary material.
Why it matters
This discovery provides a new tool for astronomers to understand the evolution of planetary systems and the life cycles of stars.
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Add as preferred source Artistic rendering of a binary star system with one of the stars swallowing a planet . Credit: Anne Rathsam/with AI An international team led by researchers from the University of São Paulo (USP) in Brazil has developed an innovative method to identify stars that have consumed the planets around them. The technique detects variations in the abundance of beryllium, a relatively rare chemical element, and could open a new window into studying the evolution of planetary systems.
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