Scientists find evidence Sun swallowed a super-Earth billions of years ago
Researchers at Ege University in Turkey report that the Sun likely consumed a planet five to ten times Earth's mass early in its history.
New study reveals solar secret
A new analysis suggests the young Sun acted as a cosmic cannibal by swallowing an exoplanet. This event occurred billions of years ago during the star's early development phase. The ingestion left lasting chemical and structural marks deep inside the star.
Fingerprints explain solar models
These internal imprints help explain long-standing discrepancies in standard solar models regarding lithium depletion. Scientists used stellar-evolution code to test accretion histories against precise helioseismic measurements. A single engulfment scenario matches multiple independent observations of the Sun's interior structure.
Super-Earth mass confirmed
Mutlu Yildiz of Ege University stated the fallen planet was several times more massive than Earth. The research indicates this specific mass range fits the data best. Such super-Earths are common occupants in other planetary systems found by astronomers.
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