Overview

• Astronomers have discovered that binary stars, despite originating from the same molecular cloud, can have different chemical compositions and host diverse planetary systems.
• This finding challenges previous models of star and planet formation, suggesting a more complex process influenced by chemical non-uniformities in the clouds.
• The Gemini High-Resolution Optical Spectrograph (GHOST) provided the precise measurements necessary to identify these primordial differences.
• The study disproves earlier theories that differences arose from processes occurring after the stars had formed, such as atomic diffusion or planetary engulfment.
• These insights could alter how astronomers use chemical composition to trace stars' origins and impact our understanding of planetary system diversity.