"Uncovering the Enigma of Cannibal Stars in Neighboring Galaxies"
Astronomers have discovered a population of hot helium stars in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, which are thought to be precursors to neutron star mergers and hydrogen-poor supernovae. These stars form in binary systems where one star strips the hydrogen envelope from the other, leaving a hot helium core. The finding, published in Science, supports the theory that a third of massive stars undergo this process and has significant implications for our understanding of stellar evolution and related cosmic phenomena.