James Webb spots water vapor in rocky planet-forming disk

Astronomers have detected water vapor in the inner region of a protoplanetary disk – where rocky planets may be forming – for the first time, thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope. Located 370 light years away, PDS 70, a K-type star, is surrounded by a giant hot swirling jumble of gas. This protoplanetary disk is separated …

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder how much storage this disk has?

[Pascal Monett]

This discovery might advantageously explain why there is water in Earth's mantle, which is something the cometary theory is not really capable of explaining.

[MrAptronym]

I don't think that is an issue for theories of late water addition. I think everyone will reasonably admit that some water on the earth occurred earlier in accretion, the question is how much, and where that water is located. For some of the mantle, it will be well hydrated well after any late bombardment through plate tectonics.

[ThatOne]

Indeed: Water is pulled down with the plates, lubricating them, and creates (or at least contributes to) the subduction zone vulcanism.

_{(AFAIK -- I'm no geologist, Mr Cooper!)}

[Winkypop]

It’s not just water

It’s proto-beer!

[cookieMonster]

Re: It’s not just water

I propose we name the new planet “Hublon”.