The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has resolved a longstanding cosmic mystery by confirming the existence of long-lived planet-forming disks in environments low in heavy elements, challenging existing theories of planet formation. This discovery builds on observations made by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2003, which detected a massive planet orbiting an ancient star, raising questions about how planets could form in such elemental scarcity. While Hubble indicated that planet-forming disks existed around stars aged 20-30 million years—longer than prevailing models suggested—JWST provided the necessary spectral data to confirm these disks were not only present but actively forming planets. In studying the star-forming region NGC 346 in the Small Magellanic Cloud, Webb confirmed that these disks could persist much longer in low-metallicity environments than previously thought, which indicates a need to revise our understanding of planet formation timelines. This revelation suggests that early-phase planet formation can continue over extended periods, thereby allowing for the growth of larger planetary bodies even in regions lacking heavier elements. The findings have significant implications for models of planetary evolution in the early universe, highlighting the capacity for diverse planet formation mechanisms across different cosmic environments.
