Giant Planet Discovery Suggests Evidence of Ancient Planetary Collisions
In a recent study published in Nature Astronomy, scientists have found evidence that suggests giant planets in exoplanetary systems may be the result of collisions between two rocky protoplanets. The researchers used computer simulations to examine how planets form and the results suggest that collisions can lead to the formation of gas giant planets in systems that were previously thought to be unlikely to produce such planets. This could mean that giant planets could form in many more systems than previously assumed.
source: Phys.org