ScienceAugust 29, 2026
protoplanetary
PRO-toh-plan-eh-teh-ree
Definition
Relating to the early stage of a planetary system, specifically the disk of gas and dust surrounding a young star from which planets are believed to form.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'prōtos' meaning 'first' and the English word 'planetary'. It emerged in scientific usage during the 20th century to describe the precursors to fully formed planets.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the disks of material left over from star formation, noting that these disks have a limited window of time before their gases dissipate and planet formation must occur.
Human Mini Brains Kept Alive For 5 Years, Listen To The Sounds Of An Ancient Jurassic Forest, And Much More This Week
Read the full article ↗IFLScience