![]() Using existing models of planetary formation, the scientists determined the speed at which gas and dust was pulled into the center of our Solar System during its formation. The core also contains the majority of the planet’s phosphorus, which is an important nutrient for sustaining carbon-based life. On Earth, for instance, a molten iron core creates a magnetosphere that protects the planet from cancer-causing cosmic rays. The composition of a planet’s core is important for its potential to support life. ![]() Their study suggests that magnetism should be factored into future attempts to describe the composition of rocky planets, including those outside our Solar System. The researchers found that the density and proportion of iron in a rocky planet’s core correlates with the strength of the magnetic field around the Sun during planetary formation. When the planets began to form from clumps of that dust and gas, planets closer to the Sun incorporated more iron into their cores than those farther away. Yoshizaki shows that during the early formation of our Solar System, when the young Sun was surrounded by a swirling cloud of dust and gas, grains of iron were drawn toward the center by the Sun’s magnetic field. The new model developed by Professor McDonough and Dr. A view of the planets of our Solar System.
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