The region surrounding Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, is home to a cosmic version of 17th-century serial killer Elizabeth Bathory, where stars stay young by slamming into their neighbor stars and coating themselves in the stolen stellar material. This cannibalistic process leaves the stellar victim as a strange, stripped “zombie” star as well as dooms the cannibal star to an early death.
Stellar Cannibalism
The process of stellar cannibalism occurs when a star, in order to stay young, slams into and consumes its neighboring stars. This violent act not only strips the victim star of its outer layers but also coats the cannibal star in the stolen stellar material. The result is a “zombie” star, a strange and stripped-down version of its former self, as well as an early demise for the cannibal star.