A recent study analyzing the PDS 70 exoplanet system has revealed notable discrepancies between the composition of gases in the atmosphere of the still-forming planet PDS 70b and those found in its natal disk. This challenges the long-held notion that developing planets closely resemble the gas and dust disks from which they form. Traditionally, scientists assumed that the gas ratios in a planet’s atmosphere would mirror those in the surrounding disk. However, researchers from Northwestern University found that the carbon-to-oxygen ratio in PDS 70b’s atmosphere is significantly lower than that in its natal disk, suggesting that the standard models of planet formation may be overly simplistic. The study indicates that planets could also acquire substantial amounts of solid materials during their formation, in addition to gas. By examining the light spectra emitted from PDS 70b, which helps identify the planet’s composition, the researchers aim to better understand the processes at play in the formation of this planetary system, which is just 5 million years old. Future research will include observations of the second planet in the PDS 70 system to enhance insights into planetary formation mechanisms.
