New data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) reveals a surprising discovery about a star engulfing a Jupiter-sized planet. Contrary to previous theories, the event wasn't a sudden swallowing but a slow spiral over millions of years. The planet, orbiting much closer than Mercury to our Sun, gradually moved inward, eventually brushing against the star's atmosphere and triggering a rapid fall. The resulting collision ejected gas which cooled and formed a dust cloud, and surprisingly, a hot molecular gas disk reminiscent of planet formation was also observed. This finding challenges existing models of stellar evolution and planetary engulfment, offering crucial insights into the ultimate fate of planetary systems, including our own.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.