Senior star may have comets

Astronomers report what could be the first evidence of water-bearing objects that orbit a star other than our sun. Since water is an essential ingredient for life, this finding could increase the odds that life exists outside the solar system.

Artist’s depiction of CW Leonis vaporizing comets. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

The researchers detected a surprisingly high abundance of water vapor in the vicinity of a bloated, elderly star called CW Leonis.