Cosmic Chemical Detectives: Unveiling the Secrets of Protoplanets and Star-Birthing Clouds

Scientists using the ALMA observatory have discovered strong chemical evidence of a protoplanet in the protoplanetary disk around young star HD 169142. The detection of silicon monosulfide provides a new method for detecting and studying protoplanets, offering insights into protoplanetary chemistry. This discovery opens up new possibilities for detecting and characterizing protoplanets when direct observations or imaging are not possible, deepening our understanding of exoplanets and their development over time.