Scientists solve mystery of why star pair has more than a million-year age gap

This merger likely occurred around 2.6 million years ago, where the newly formed star also became magnetic, unlike its older counterpart

The nebula surrounding HD 148937 as seen in visible light (ESO/VPHAS+ team)

Scientists believe they have solved the mystery of why a strange pair of stars thousands of light years away has more than a million-year age gap.

Star pairs are usually very similar in age, like twins, the researchers said – but in case of the HD 148937 star system, one is around 1.4 million years older then the other.