Astronomy
The Formation and Evolution of Protoplanetary Disks
Quick fact
Protoplanetary disks are incredibly short-lived in astronomical terms—they disappear in just 1 to 10 million years, which is why we don't see them around older stars like our Sun.
Why this is interesting
Look up at the night sky: every star you see might once have been surrounded by a spinning disc of cosmic dust. How did those discs give birth to entire planets, including our Solar System?