Missing link star? Why this 'teenage vampire' white dwarf has scientists so excited

Scientists are buzzing about a bizarre "teenage vampire" white dwarf star caught red-handed—sucking material from a neighboring star. This cosmic oddball is in a rare, transitional phase of stellar evolution, acting as a "missing link" that helps explain how certain dead stars grow and change. Think of it like catching a teenager mid-growth spurt—it’s a fleeting moment that reveals how these celestial objects transform over time.