Two Dwarf Stars Consume Orbiting Companions in 2 Nature Astronomy Studies
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · Oct 5
Two Dwarf Stars Consume Orbiting Companions in 2 Nature Astronomy Studies
3 articles · Updated · Scientific American · Oct 5
Summary
Two Nature Astronomy studies report a white dwarf feeding on a planet’s atmosphere and a red dwarf steadily draining a brown dwarf companion.
Chemical traces including zinc, copper and niobium, along with periodic dimming, suggest the white dwarf’s planet formed after the star died and is now losing material to it.
In the second system, material appears to be flowing from the brown dwarf to the red dwarf in a slow process that could continue for millions of years rather than ending in a rapid engulfment.
The findings sharpen evidence that planets and stars evolve together, and suggest both post-death “second-generation” planets and long, gradual atmospheric loss are possible outcomes.
For the solar system, the studies imply a planet could theoretically form after the sun dies, while Earth might one day lose its atmosphere gradually instead of being consumed quickly.