Thursday, October 2, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Space

Jumbo discovery: astronomers offer new model for formation of recently discovered “free-floating” planets

April 22, 2024
in Space
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Jumbo discovery: astronomers offer new model for formation of recently discovered “free-floating” planets
65
SHARES
591
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

The recent discovery of a potential new class of distant and mysterious “free-floating” planets has intrigued astronomers since stunning new images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope were shared late last year.  

The recent discovery of a potential new class of distant and mysterious “free-floating” planets has intrigued astronomers since stunning new images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope were shared late last year.  

These candidate planets, known as Jupiter-mass Binary Objects (JuMBOs), seem to orbit one another as they float freely in space unbound to any star – which counters prevailing theories of how planetary systems were thought to work. 

Now, a groundbreaking new study by a team of astrophysicists from UNLV and Stony Brook University, published April 19 in the journal Nature Astronomy, introduces a compelling model for how these JuMBOs may have formed. 

The team used advanced techniques, known as direct N-body simulations, to explore how interactions within dense stellar clusters could lead to the ejection of giant planets that remain gravitationally bound to each other as they drift through the galaxy. This significant research offers a model for how these enigmatic binaries may form, filling a critical gap in our understanding of planetary evolution.

“Our simulations demonstrate that close stellar encounters can spontaneously eject pairs of giant planets from their native systems, leading them to orbit each other in space,” said study corresponding author Yihan Wang, a postdoctoral fellow with the Nevada Center for Astrophysics at UNLV. “These findings could significantly alter our perception of planetary dynamics and the diversity of planetary systems in our universe.”

The research indicates that such events are more likely to occur within densely populated star clusters, suggesting that free-floating binary planets could be more common than previously thought. The characteristics of these planetary pairs – such as their separation and orbital eccentricity – provide new insights into the violent environmental conditions that influence planetary formation.

“It introduces dynamic stellar interactions as an important factor in the development of unusual planetary systems in dense stellar environments,” said Rosalba Perna, study co-author and professor of physics and astronomy at Stony Brook University. 

According to researchers, this new work broadens what we know about planetary formation and also sets the stage for future observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which could provide further evidence supporting the team’s predictions.

“Understanding the formation of JuMBOs helps us challenge and refine the prevailing theories of planet formation,” said UNLV astrophysicist and study co-author Zhaohuan Zhu. “Forthcoming observations from the JWST may help us do just that, offering new insights with each observation that will help us better formulate new theories of giant planet formation.” 

About The Paper 

“Free-floating binary planets from ejections during close stellar encounters,” was published April 19 in the journal Nature Astronomy. 



Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41550-024-02239-2

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Free-floating binary planets from ejections during close stellar encounters

Article Publication Date

19-Apr-2024

Share26Tweet16
Previous Post

Critical gap in colorectal cancer screening process: follow-up after positive stool test

Next Post

Despite AI advancements, human oversight remains essential

Related Posts

blank
Space

Revolutionary Method for Gravitational Wave Detection Unlocks the Milli-Hertz Frontier

October 2, 2025
blank
Space

Investigating the Evolution of Dark Energy: Insights from Computer Simulations

October 2, 2025
blank
Space

Emerging Rogue Planet Exhibits Extraordinary ‘Growth Spurt’ Breaking Records

October 2, 2025
blank
Space

“Unprecedented Growth: Rogue Planet Discovered Accelerating at Six Billion Tonnes Per Second”

October 2, 2025
blank
Space

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis: Weylian Universe Redefined

October 2, 2025
blank
Space

Cosmic Echoes: Precise Hydrodynamics Reveal Early Universe Ripples

October 2, 2025
Next Post
Despite AI advancements, human oversight remains essential

Despite AI advancements, human oversight remains essential

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27562 shares
    Share 11022 Tweet 6889
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    970 shares
    Share 388 Tweet 243
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    646 shares
    Share 258 Tweet 162
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    513 shares
    Share 205 Tweet 128
  • Groundbreaking Clinical Trial Reveals Lubiprostone Enhances Kidney Function

    477 shares
    Share 191 Tweet 119
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Home-Based Early Medical Abortion Up to 12 Weeks: Safe, Effective, and on Par with Hospital Care
  • Billions Face Unhealthy Diets Amid Food Systems Fueling Climate and Health Crises, Yet Sustainable, Fair Solutions Remain Attainable, Reports New EAT-Lancet Study
  • Empowering Community Mental Health: A Local Government Initiative
  • Revolutionary Method for Gravitational Wave Detection Unlocks the Milli-Hertz Frontier

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Blog
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 5,186 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Discover more from Science

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading