Puzzling Two-Faced Star: Hydrogen and Helium Sides Baffle Astronomers

TL;DR Summary
Astronomers have discovered a two-faced white dwarf star, named Janus, with one side composed mostly of hydrogen and the other side made up of helium. This is the first time a lone star with such contrasting faces has been observed. The star's two-faced nature is difficult to explain, but one possibility is that it is undergoing a rare transition during white dwarf evolution. The scientists believe that an asymmetric magnetic field could be causing the transition to occur in a lopsided way. Further research is needed to understand this peculiar phenomenon.
- Two-faced star with helium and hydrogen sides baffles astronomers The Guardian
- Two-faced star seems to have one hydrogen side and one helium side New Scientist
- Two-faced white dwarf star leaves astronomers puzzled – Physics World physicsworld.com
- A rotating white dwarf shows different compositions on its opposite faces Nature.com
- Two-faced star has hydrogen on one side and helium on other Pacific Daily News
- View Full Coverage on Google News
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