Unraveling the Enigma of Exotic 'Stripped Stars' and Neutron Star Companions

Astronomers have discovered a population of stars that represent the "missing link" in the evolution of binary systems that eventually become colliding neutron stars, known as kilonovas. These stars, called intermediate-mass stripped helium stars, fill the helium-star mass gap and are crucial for the dispersion of heavy elements throughout the universe. The researchers detected 25 possible examples of these stars, which will eventually undergo ultra-stripped supernova explosions and merge into neutron star binaries. The study sheds light on the physical properties of these elusive stars and may help solve the puzzle of their appearance.