Scientists using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) discovered an unusual presence of water vapour in the inner area of a gas and dust disk orbiting a young star, potentially indicating the genesis of planets, Interesting Engineering reported.
The telescope focused on HL Tauri, a Sun-like star 450 light-years away, and discovered an unexpected amount of water, believed to be at least three times the volume of Earth’s seas.
Lead author Stefano Facchini of the University of Milan expressed surprise at obtaining “an image of oceans of water vapour in the same region where a planet is likely forming.” The findings provide unparalleled insights into the factors that promote planetary growth.
These discoveries challenge past disputes about the genesis of Earth’s water and offer a process for delivering water to forming planets before potential asteroid collisions. This suggests a possible influence on planetary chemical composition, akin to Earth’s development 4.5 billion years ago.
