2001-05-09 | SCIENCE
The Harsh Destiny of a Planet?
Scientists have discovered evidence that a nearby star may have swallowed one of its own planets. The star, HD 82943, is believed to have at least two planets still orbiting it. Light from the star reveals an unusually high concentration of lithium-6 (a variety of the element lithium), which would not have survived the star's birth. The finding suggests that a planet with lithium-6, drawn by the star's gravitational pull, fell into the star and was engulfed. Understanding how planets form—and whether they survive— will help astrobiologists determine how common habitable worlds are.
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from European Southern Observatory, May 09, 2001
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