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Sun-like star caught after eating one of its own planets

A distant Sun-like star appears to have devoured one of its planets, leaving behind a surprising chemical fingerprint. Researchers found an unusually high concentration of lithium, a strong sign that planetary material was mixed into the star. Careful comparisons with dozens of similar stars confirmed the signal is highly unusual, and scientists think a massive brown dwarf companion may have helped send the planet on its fatal plunge.

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