Chemical Composition of Young Star Disks Unveiled by JWST

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has provided a first look at the chemistry of disks around young stars where rocky planets form. The data reveal the disks to be chemically diverse and rich in molecules such as water, carbon dioxide, and organic hydrocarbon compounds like benzene as well as tiny grains of carbon and silicates. The ongoing MPIA-led JWST observing program MINDS promises to provide a revolutionary view on the conditions that precede the birth of planets and, at the same time, determine their compositions.