Betelgeuse's Stellar Feast: Devouring a Companion Star?

New research suggests that the recent fluctuations in luminosity of the red supergiant star Betelgeuse may be due to a past merger with a smaller companion star. Simulations show that as the stars merge, there is an exchange of energy and mass loss, which could explain Betelgeuse's high rotation rate and chemical composition. However, the study does not conclusively prove the merger theory and further research is needed to fully understand the effects of stellar mergers on massive star evolution and supernova progenitors.