Produced by: Manoj Kumar
New simulations by Rice University suggest super-Earths and mini-Neptunes form from narrow rings of planetesimals—challenging decades of belief that planets emerge from scattered materials.
Representative pic
Researchers Sho Shibata and Andre Izidoro reveal that planets form in precise zones, not randomly—offering a clearer map of how worlds are born in other solar systems.
The puzzling “radius valley,” a gap between planet sizes, is explained: rocky super-Earths form inside 1.5 AU, while water-rich mini-Neptunes form beyond 5 AU—solving a cosmic riddle.
Representative pic
Why do planets in the same system often share similar sizes? The “peas-in-a-pod” mystery may stem from planet-forming rings that naturally produce uniform planetary siblings.
Representative pic
Beyond 5 AU, near the water snow line, mini-Neptunes grow from pebble accretion—highlighting how icy outer disk regions shape the architecture of distant worlds.
Representative pic
Shibata and Izidoro’s model not only mirrors real exoplanet systems but also explains their orbits—suggesting a universal blueprint for planet formation across the galaxy.
Representative pic
Though Earth-like planets are rare in these systems, the study predicts about 1 in 300 sun-like stars may host a rocky world in the habitable zone—fueling hope for distant Earths.
Representative pic
Like Earth’s own violent beginnings, some rocky planets may form via giant impacts in late stages—offering a glimpse into how habitable worlds might emerge amid chaos.
Representative pic
Upcoming telescopes could soon test this new model—potentially rewriting planetary science and reshaping our search for Earth-like planets beyond the solar system.
Representative pic