James Webb Space Telescope observes 72 stars and finds planet formation is a race against time

(Main) an illustration of a protoplanetary disk (inset) the James Webb Space Telescope.

Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have studied 72 young, sun-like stars. As a result, they found that forming planets is a real race against time.

This is because the material that serves as the building blocks for planets is constantly escaping the swirling platters of gas and dust, or protoplanetary disks, that wrap around infant stars. Some types of planets may find their formation window closing sooner than others.