"Rejuvenated 'Zombie' Stars Near Milky Way's Black Hole"

New research from Northwestern University explores the violent journeys of stars orbiting the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A*. The study finds that densely packed stars in this region commonly experience brutal collisions, leading to outcomes such as stars losing mass and becoming stripped down, low-mass stars, or merging with others to appear rejuvenated but with shorter life expectancies. The research sheds light on the extreme environment near the galactic center and provides insights into the history of the Milky Way.