Astronomers say they have figured out the true chemical makeup of our solar system, revealing that it contained much more carbon, oxygen and nitrogen than previously thought.
Chiefly, the finding could help explain why Pluto, the largest known object in the Kuiper Belt — a vast region of icy bodies in the outer solar system — is dominated by rock rather than ice. Despite its location in the frigid reaches of the solar system, Pluto's unexpectedly high density has puzzled scientists for decades.
