ALMA reveals gas dictates planet types in stellar nurseries

Astronomers have gained new insights into planet formation, discovering that gas and dust in protoplanetary disks evolve at different rates, influencing the types of planets that form. Using the ALMA radio telescope, researchers studied 30 protoplanetary disks around sunlike stars, finding that the amount of remaining gas determines planet types. This research, part of the AGE-PRO program, provides a clearer understanding of planetary evolution. The study's findings, published in 12 research papers, help scientists understand how planetary systems, including our own, form and evolve, offering a more detailed picture of planet formation.