Artists impression of a protoplanetary disk. Inset: A soup full of complex molecules around a new planet M.Weiss/Center for Astrophysics/Harvard & Smithsonian
The most detailed map of planetary nurseries has been done yet. They contain more organic molecules than we expected, which is a good sign that they are the fundamental chemical building blocks for the development of life. These maps can help us to understand whether or not we are the only ones in the universe.
Protoplanetary discs, made of gas and dust, are where planets will form. They surround young stars. These discs have been observed in the past and we have seen evidence of planet formation in them.
