New research points to origin of planet formation

Researchers at Texas State University are making big discoveries that better inform the public on the processes behind rocky planet formation.

TXST Department of Physics Assistant Professor Andrea Banzatti is leading the research team, which includes Postdoctoral Research Associate Anusha Kalyaan–an expert in predictive modeling.

“Most processes that we are studying take way too long for us to observe them in real time,” Banzatti said, adding that the only way to view the formation of stars and rocky planets is to view snapshots at different points in the process.