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Aging Stars Devour Planets: New TESS Findings Reveal

11/8/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Astronomers using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) find that aging stars destroy more planets than previously thought.
The study identifies about 130 planet candidates orbiting stars beginning to become red giants.
As stars expand, gravity pulls planets inward, causing them to break apart or plunge into the star.
Earth may survive the sun's red giant phase, but life on the planet is unlikely.

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Story summary

Astronomers using NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) find that aging stars destroy more planets than previously thought.
The study identifies about 130 planet candidates orbiting stars beginning to become red giants.
As stars expand, gravity pulls planets inward, causing them to break apart or plunge into the star.
Earth may survive the sun's red giant phase, but life on the planet is unlikely.