Surface Chemistry Shows Which Massive Stars Have Gained Mass from Binary Companions

This artist's illustration shows a blue star gaining mass from its red giant companion. Mass transfer is common in massive stars, most of which are in binary relationships. A pair of researchers have developed a way to identify stars that have gained mass, even if the transfer happened a long time ago. Image Credit: NASA/ESA, A. Feild (STScI))

Most stars, including massive ones, are in binary pairs. Astronomers think that about 70% of them have gained mass from their companions, but there's been no way to determine which ones have done so. Now, researchers have found a way.

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