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New data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) reveals a surprising discovery about a planet's demise. Instead of being instantly engulfed by its aging star, the Jupiter-sized planet spiraled inward over millions of years before its fiery end. This observation, made by scientists from NSF's NOIRLab, challenges previous theories about stellar engulfment. The event, initially detected as a light flash in 2020, showed a slow, spiraling death rather than a sudden swallowing. The JWST's infrared instruments revealed a hot gas disk surrounding the star, leftover from the planet's destruction. This finding provides crucial insights into the final stages of planetary systems and raises questions about the Sun's eventual impact on Earth.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.