The Weirdest Stars in the Universe: Exploring the Evolution of Thorne-Zytkow Objects*

Thorne-Zytkow objects (TZOs) are some of the most mysterious and compelling stars in the universe. Thought to be formed from the mergers of massive binaries, they represent a completely new model for stable stellar interiors, a distinct evolutionary channel for binaries and compact objects, and a novel channel for producing the heavy elements that have enriched our universe. This talk will present recent theoretical and observational results on TZO progenitors, formation, candidates, and multi-messenger time-domain signatures, as well as the implications of this work for ongoing research on the evolution and final fate of massive stars.