Planetary Debris Colors Dead Stars

Spectroscopy shows that accretion of rocky planetary material can change a white dwarf's visible colour — e.g., sodium and other elements in the atmosphere of WD J1330+6435 absorb orange wavelengths and leave a green tint. That means the remains of destroyed planets leave observable fingerprints in a star's light, giving astronomers a direct way to probe exoplanet composition long after the planets are gone. — Provides a new, directly observable connection between planet destruction and stellar appearance, broadening how we study planetary systems and offering a vivid hook for public engagement with exoplanet science.