Researchers have found strong evidence that TOI-5882, a Sun-like star approximately 1,300 light-years from Earth, may have consumed one of its planets.

The discovery was made by analyzing the star's chemical composition, which revealed an unusually high concentration of lithium—a element more commonly found in planetary material than in stars.This lithium signature suggests that planetary material was incorporated into the star, indicating a planetary engulfment event.The study, led by University of Michigan astronomer Brooke Kotten, involved comparing TOI-5882 with 62 similar stars to confirm the anomaly.

The lithium levels in TOI-5882 are at least in the 97th percentile, making it a rare case where evidence of planetary consumption is still detectable.The research team hypothesizes that a massive brown dwarf companion may have disrupted the planet's orbit, leading to its demise.This finding could help astronomers understand how often stars consume planets and the conditions that trigger such events.Our solar system may face a similar fate in about 5 billion years when the Sun expands into a red giant.The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal, highlights the importance of chemical signatures in uncovering cosmic mysteries.