Powerful protostars may not be responsible for ending their own growth

Fresh research has cast doubt on the theory that energetic outbursts from young stars blows away the cocoon of gas from which they formed, which in turn prevents them from growing any further. The Milky Way plays host to over 200 billion stars, the ear… Continue reading Powerful protostars may not be responsible for ending their own growth

Avoiding violent neighbors key to planet formation in star clusters

According to the results of a new study, stars orbiting near the centers of massive clusters have a much harder time forming planets than those located at the edge. The discovery was made possible by the powerful viewing capabilities of the Hubble Spac… Continue reading Avoiding violent neighbors key to planet formation in star clusters

Astronomers Peer at a Young Star System That Is Strikingly Similar to Our Own

DM Tau has its own asteroid belt, and may be developing its own versions of Earth and Neptune, too. Continue reading Astronomers Peer at a Young Star System That Is Strikingly Similar to Our Own

What Baby Stars and Meteorites Can Tell Us About Our Solar System’s Past

Rachel Smith studies the birth of stars to better understand the origins of life on Earth, and perhaps elsewhere in the universe. Continue reading What Baby Stars and Meteorites Can Tell Us About Our Solar System’s Past