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Is it Aliens? The Most Unusual Star In The Galaxy - Chris Lintott
Gresham College Lectures
Exploring a Theory on a Star's Unusual Behavior
The theory suggests that a star consuming a planet could cause long-term dimming and sudden dips in brightness. This is based on a study of double stars that were born together, showing that one in twelve stars exhibit evidence of planetary ingestion. When a star consumes a planet, it gets brighter for about 1,000 years and gradually fades, potentially explaining the unusual behavior observed in the 'WTF star'. The theory also proposes that disruption of planets by encountering other stars or passing through a galaxy's spiral arm is more likely in double stars, making them prone to planetary consumption. This could lead to rubble orbiting the star, causing sudden dips in brightness. Further investigation is needed to confirm if the 'WTF star' is a double star and to explore the possibility of planet eating as a plausible explanation for its behavior, potentially ruling out alien involvement in the phenomenon.
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