Dying stars give a second wind to exoplanet formation

Binary star systems are often thought to be hostile to planet formation, yet the discovery of a white dwarf in the ν Octantis system challenges these assumptions by offering an alternative pathway for exoplanet development. While most known exoplanets form around stars similar to the Sun and follow predictable orbital patterns, ν Octantis defies these trends with its unique configuration—a single star potentially nearing the end of its life surrounded by material expelled during stellar evolution that could give rise to planetary systems like this one. This finding opens new possibilities for understanding how planets might form in other unusual binary systems.