Astronomers Unravel the Mystery of Magnetic Fields in Massive Stars

Recent studies reveal that magnetic fields in some massive stars are caused by stellar mergers, challenging previous scientific assumptions.

Astronomers discover that magnetic fields in massive stars may result from the merging of two stars, as observed in the nebula NGC 6164/6165.
The nebula, known as the Dragon's Egg, is located 3,800 light-years away and houses a binary star system with one magnetic star.
The younger, magnetic star in the binary system challenges the conventional understanding that stars formed together should be similar in age.
Research suggests that the nebula surrounding the stars is relatively young, about 7,500 years old, and rich in elements like nitrogen and carbon.
This finding could help explain the rare occurrence of magnetism in massive stars, which has puzzled scientists for years.