Subscribe now

Space

Planet-eating stars can be identified by their telltale chemistry

By Jason Arunn Murugesu

13 September 2021

An Exoplanet In Orbit Around A Binary Star System

Artist’s impression of an exoplanet in orbit around a binary star

MasPix/Alamy

Astronomers could boost the efficiency of the search for alien worlds that might harbour life by using a technique that can help determine whether a star has already eaten its planets.

Lorenzo Spina at the Astronomical Observatory of Padua, Italy, and his colleagues analysed a series of binary stars – pairs of stars that orbit one another. Because both stars in a binary pair typically formed from a single giant molecular cloud, they should be chemically identical.

“However, we’ve known for…

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up

To continue reading, subscribe today with our introductory offers

View introductory offers

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 2nd of July 2024.

*Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

or

Existing subscribers

Sign in to your account