Possible Early Engulfment of a Super‑Earth by the Sun
Researchers have put forward the idea that, during the Sun’s formation, it might have swallowed a super‑Earth‑sized rocky planet. If true, this would have delivered a substantial amount of heavy material into the nascent stellar interior.
Such an event could have altered the Sun’s present‑day composition by introducing extra iron, silicon and other refractory elements into its core. The authors caution that the current indications are indirect and that no direct observational proof exists yet.
One reason why no clear traces have been detected is that the ingested planetary material may have been thoroughly mixed with the solar plasma and subsequently transported toward the centre, where any surface signature would be erased or strongly diluted.
To test the hypothesis, scientists propose using future solar probes and high‑resolution spectroscopy to look for subtle isotopic anomalies that could betray the ancient accretion of a rocky world. Only with such data can the idea of an early planet‑swallowing Sun be confirmed or ruled out.