Astronomers have for the first time caught a glimpse of planetary birth at "time zero," spotting the earliest seeds of rocky worlds forming in the scorching gas around a young, sun-like star. This milestone offers a real-time look at the processes that set the stage for planets like Earth.
The international team, led by Leiden Observatory’s Melissa McClure, used cutting-edge telescopes to peer into the hot inner disk where dust grains begin to stick and grow. "We\u000captured a direct glimpse of the hot region where rocky planets like Earth are born around young protostars," says McClure. "For the first time, we can conclusively say that the first steps of planet formation are happening right now."
Experts say this snapshot marks the dawn of planetary architecture. Fred Ciesla of the University of Chicago adds, "This is one of the things we\u000been waiting for. There's a rich opportunity here to test our theories, refine simulations, and better understand how diverse planetary systems\u000and our own included\u000finally take shape."
Beyond fueling academic curiosity, this breakthrough resonates with tech innovators designing next-generation space missions and data analysts building models of planet formation. For young explorers dreaming of interstellar travel and digital nomads charting cosmic frontiers, it's a thrilling reminder: the universe is still writing its origin story\u000and we're watching it unfold in real time.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
