"Cannibal Stars Defy Aging at Milky Way's Core"

New research from Northwestern University using simulations of 1,000 stars around the Milky Way’s supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*, reveals that high-speed stellar collisions lead to the formation of youthful-looking stars, either through stripping down and becoming low-mass or merging into massive entities. These "zombie stars" appear rejuvenated despite their ancient origins, as they have consumed their neighbors. The study sheds light on the extreme environment near the galactic center and provides insights into the history of the Milky Way.