Jan 10, 2026 04:25 PM
https://www.sciencefocus.com/news/missin...et-forming
INTRO: Astronomers may have uncovered how the most common types of planets in our Galaxy grow, a new study has revealed. The discovery confirms astronomers’ theories that these planets start as 'bloated' babies but quickly lose much of their thick atmospheres.
The study, published in Nature, looked at four infant exoplanets in the V1298 Tau system. Their star is just 20 million years old, making it the cosmic equivalent of a 5-month-old baby.
Currently, the planets are five to 10 times the radius of Earth but have just five to 15 times its mass – giving them a similar density to polystyrene foam.
This means the planets are ‘puffed up’, as the heat and light of their young star is causing their atmospheres to expand enormously. The result is that the planets lose huge amounts of gas into space, meaning they will eventually contract and end up somewhere between Earth and Neptune in size... (MORE - details)
INTRO: Astronomers may have uncovered how the most common types of planets in our Galaxy grow, a new study has revealed. The discovery confirms astronomers’ theories that these planets start as 'bloated' babies but quickly lose much of their thick atmospheres.
The study, published in Nature, looked at four infant exoplanets in the V1298 Tau system. Their star is just 20 million years old, making it the cosmic equivalent of a 5-month-old baby.
Currently, the planets are five to 10 times the radius of Earth but have just five to 15 times its mass – giving them a similar density to polystyrene foam.
This means the planets are ‘puffed up’, as the heat and light of their young star is causing their atmospheres to expand enormously. The result is that the planets lose huge amounts of gas into space, meaning they will eventually contract and end up somewhere between Earth and Neptune in size... (MORE - details)