When Stars Engulf Rocky Planets, Beryllium Gives It Away

This illustration shows a planet spiralling inwards, where it's engulfed by its star. Researchers have developed a method to determine which stars have eaten rocky planets. It's all based on the rare element Beryllium. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI).
Licence: Attribution (CC BY 4.0)

Astronomers know that stars can engulf planets when they stray too close. But how can they know, by looking at a star, if it has ever done so? The answer lies in Beryllium, an element not synthesized inside stars.

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