Sun-like star devours planet, shows lithium signature

A Sun‑like star located several hundred light‑years from Earth appears to have consumed one of its planets, leaving a distinctive chemical signature in its atmosphere. Astronomers detected an unusually high concentration of lithium—an element that is normally depleted in mature stars—indicating that planetary material has been mixed into the star’s outer layers.

The discovery came after researchers compared the star’s spectrum with those of dozens of similar stars and found the lithium excess to be highly anomalous. Detailed analysis suggests that the star’s massive brown dwarf companion may have gravitationally destabilised the planet’s orbit, causing it to spiral inward and be engulfed. The event provides a rare glimpse of the late stages of planetary systems and the dynamic interactions that can lead to such dramatic outcomes.