The Sun, our very own star, was not always alone in the vastness of space. This recent discovery has shed light on the fact that the Sun might have had a companion star in its early years.
A team of researchers from the Institute of Astronomy at the University of Cambridge has found evidence that suggests the Sun was once part of a binary system. By studying ancient meteorites found on Earth, the scientists were able to determine that the Sun's sibling star, which they have named "Nemesis," may have existed over 4.6 billion years ago.
The existence of Nemesis would explain some long-standing mysteries in our solar system. For instance, it could be a potential explanation for the regular extinction events on Earth, as the gravitational pull from Nemesis might have disrupted the Oort Cloud, causing comets to be sent hurtling towards our planet.
This discovery could also have implications for our understanding of the early Solar System. It challenges the previous belief that the Sun was born in isolation, without the presence of any other stars nearby.
While the theory of the Sun having a companion star is not entirely new, this research provides strong evidence in support of it.
The findings of this study bring us closer to understanding the formation and evolution of our Sun, and how it might have interacted with other celestial bodies in its early days.
