JOURNAL ARTICLE

Rewriting Earth's origin story.

  • Published In: New Scientist, 2026, v. 270, n. 3589. P. 14 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Crane, Leah 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on new computer simulations suggesting that the inner solar system's rocky planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—may have formed from two separate discs of material rather than a single disc as previously thought. This two-disc model better explains the planets' sizes, distances, and compositional differences, with Earth forming mainly from inner disc material and Mars from the outer disc. Additionally, observations of the disintegrating comet C/2025 K1 (ATLAS) by the Hubble Space Telescope provide rare insights into pristine ices from the early solar system, potentially revealing more about planetary formation environments. Researchers continue refining these models and analyzing comet data to deepen understanding of solar system origins. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:New Scientist. 2026/04, Vol. 270, Issue 3589, p14
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Publication Date:2026
  • ISSN:0262-4079
  • Accession Number:192678769
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of New Scientist is the property of New Scientist Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.