How the Universe Works

Drawing on NASA research, the programme compiles a ranking of the six most destructive stars known to science. The list features ‘vampire’ stars that drain their neighbours, explosive supernovae and white dwarfs capable of tearing planets apart in the cosmos.

Stars That Kill is a television programme presented as an episode that looks at some of the most hazardous objects in the night sky. The show is built around scientific data and aims to give viewers a clear picture of how certain stars can become deadly forces. It draws heavily on space‑agency research. The core of the episode is a ranking compiled from NASA studies, which identifies the six most destructive stars known to science. This list is assembled on the basis of how much damage each type can cause, and it groups together several extreme stellar phenomena. The programme walks the audience through each entry. Among the catalogue are the so‑called ‘vampire’ stars – objects that literally siphon material from neighbouring bodies, effectively starving them. These parasitic stars are highlighted for the way they strip away the mass of any nearby companion, turning a normal stellar neighbourhood into a hostile environment. Their ability to rob nearby bodies of mass shows how a star can act as a predator rather than a source of light. The episode also features supernovae and white dwarfs capable of destroying whole planets. Certain white dwarfs can exert forces strong enough to tear a planet apart. Both categories round out the list of stellar threats.