'Vampire' stars could be using galactic henchmen to help feed on their companions

Artist's impression composed of a star with a disc around it (a type-Be "vampire" star; foreground) and its companion star that has been stripped of its outer parts (background).

ESO/L. Calçada

• Type-Be stars, nicknamed "vampire" stars, are believed to strip the mass of a nearby star. 
• Scientists are trying to figure out how this happens. 
• New research shows that a third star might be facilitating the mass transfer.

Massive "vampire" stars that feast on their...