Webb Telescope Detects planet-Forming Disk Rich in Carbon Dioxide, Challenging Theories of Planetary Origins
By Rachel Kim, World-Today-News.com – November 21, 2024
In a revelation that’s rewriting our understanding of planet formation, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified a planet-forming disk remarkably abundant in carbon dioxide - and almost entirely devoid of water. The finding, led by Jenny Frediani of Stockholm University, throws a wrench into established theories about how planets like Earth come to be.For decades, scientists believed planet formation began with icy particles drifting inward from the outer reaches of a star’s swirling disk of gas and dust. As these particles warmed, they would release water vapor, creating the “steamy soup” considered essential for building water-rich planets. But this new observation, made possible by JWST’s powerful MIRI (Mid-infrared Instrument) spectrograph, reveals a drastically different scenario.
“Instead of water, we’re seeing a very strong signal of carbon dioxide,” explains Frediani. ”It’s a completely unexpected composition for a planet-forming disk.”
The disk resides within NGC 6357, a vast star-forming region located approximately 53 quadrillion kilometers from Earth.This region is notably harsh, bathed in intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Researchers suspect this radiation is the key to the unusual chemistry.
“The UV radiation could be breaking down molecules and driving the formation of carbon dioxide,” suggests Arjan Bik, a researcher at Stockholm university involved in the study. “It’s essentially rewriting the chemical rules within the disk.”
Beyond the surprising abundance of CO₂, the team also detected rare isotopes of carbon and oxygen – carbon-13, oxygen-17, and oxygen-18 – within the carbon dioxide molecules. These isotopic signatures could provide crucial clues to understanding the origins of materials found in our own Solar System, perhaps unlocking long-held mysteries surrounding ancient meteorites and comets.
This discovery is a triumph for the XUE (eXtreme Ultraviolet Environments) collaboration,dedicated to studying the impact of harsh radiation on planet-making processes. JWST’s MIRI instrument, co-developed by scientists at Stockholm University and Chalmers, is proving invaluable in peering through the dust and gas of these distant disks with unprecedented clarity.
by comparing these extreme environments with calmer star-forming regions, astronomers are beginning to build a more thorough picture of the diverse pathways to planetary birth. This latest
