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James Webb Telescope Discovers Earth-like Planet Formation Possible in Extreme Environments

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have found water and organic molecules in a planet-forming disk around a young star, suggesting Earth-like planets can form in harsh stellar conditions.

Astronomers have found water vapour in a disc around a young star exactly where planets may be forming. In this image, the new observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), show the water vapour in shades of blue. The red-hued rings are previous ALMA observations showing the distribution of dust around the star.
A slightly blurry blue orb in the center of the image is surrounded by a gradient disk of purple, and then red, hazes. The structure is seen against a black background.
Water in Extreme Stellar Environments
Image

Overview

  • Astronomers discovered water and organic molecules in a planet-forming disk around a young star in an extreme environment, indicating Earth-like planets could form under harsh conditions.
  • The discovery was made using the James Webb Space Telescope, marking the first time such detailed observations have been possible in extreme star-forming environments.
  • The planet-forming disk, known as XUE-1, is exposed to intense ultraviolet radiation from nearby massive stars, yet still contains essential ingredients for life.
  • Observations of another protoplanetary disk around the young star HL Tau by ALMA revealed a large amount of water vapor, further supporting the potential for Earth-like planet formation.
  • These findings challenge previous assumptions that Earth-like planets could only form in less intense star-forming regions, expanding the potential habitability zones in the universe.