Planet‑Eating Stars and the Hidden Forge of Heavy Elements in Stellar Evolution

Astronomers now recognize that a significant number of stars actually consume nearby planets or planetary debris, altering their chemical makeup and life trajectories. Recent observations, such as those from Gaia and ground‑based telescopes, indicate that roughly 1 in 12 twin-star systems show evidence of iron, nickel, and titanium enrichment consistent with planetary ingestion—affecting stars even…