- Water Discovery in Protoplanetary Disks: NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has detected water vapor in the inner regions of protoplanetary disks around young stars. This discovery supports the long-held theory that icy pebbles from the outer regions drift inwards, delivering water and solids to the rocky-planet zone.
- Rich Hydrocarbon Chemistry: JWST has also observed a plethora of carbon molecules around young stars, indicating a rich hydrocarbon chemistry in protoplanetary disks. This discovery includes the first detection of ethane and other carbon-bearing molecules outside our solar system, suggesting that these disks are rich in carbon and may influence the composition of planets forming within them.
- Alignment of Stellar Jets: A striking image from JWST shows the alignment of protostellar outflows within a small region of the Serpens Nebula. This alignment is thought to be influenced by the magnetic fields within the inner disk, which launch material into twin jets perpendicular to the disk.
4. Formation of Organic Macromolecular Matter: Research suggests that the organic macromolecular matter found in meteorites could have formed in heavily irradiated zones in dust traps in planet-forming disks.
5. Viscous Circumbinary Protoplanetary Discs: Studies have shown the structure of the inner cavity in viscous circumbinary protoplanetary disks, providing insights into the formation and evolution of these systems.
6. Outflow from a Protoplanet: Observations have revealed an outflow from a protoplanet embedded in the TW Hya disk, similar to outflows from protostars. This discovery provides insights into the early stages of planet formation
Circular Astronomy 