The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a groundbreaking discovery by capturing the rare sight of planet-forming disks releasing a cold “steam,” supporting a leading theory on the formation of planets.
The water vapor was found in two compact disks surrounding young stars just 2 to 3 million years old, within the Taurus star-forming region. This remarkable find was made possible by the JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).
The process of planet formation starts with “pebble accretion”, where icy chunks of silicate rock gradually grow into protoplanets due to friction with gas within the disk. The JWST’s observations have revealed significant evidence that supports this theory.
The study also raises unanswered questions regarding the formation of planetary rings and the conditions required for pebbles to adhere and build up into larger objects. These new findings hold vast potential in understanding not only the formation of exoplanets but also our own planet Earth and its solar system.
The recent discovery related to this topic has been published in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters. This groundbreaking research provides a deeper understanding of the universe and its mechanisms.
