NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has studied planet-shattering collisions in young star systems, offering…
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has studied planet-shattering collisions in young star systems, offering new clues about how violent impacts influence planetary formation.
By analyzing 21 extreme debris disks, researchers found that roughly one-third contained silica-rich dust consistent with high-energy collisions between Mars-sized bodies. The results may help explain events similar to the giant impact thought to have reshaped early Earth and contributed to the Moon’s formation.