A recent study from researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research reveals how giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn form in protoplanetary discs around young stars. The research shows that these planets develop sequentially, beginning with tiny dust particles that accumulate in specific regions of the disc called "pressure bumps."

The pressure bumps act as traps for dust, allowing particles to stick together and form larger bodies known as planetesimals, the initial building blocks of planets. These planetesimals grow by gathering additional material through pebble accretion, a process where small particles clump together to form a core. When the core reaches a certain size, it starts attracting gas from the surrounding disc, eventually forming gas giants.

Interestingly, the formation of one giant planet can lead to the creation of another. As a giant planet forms, it clears a gap in the disc, creating new pressure bumps at the gap's edges. These new bumps can trap more dust, leading to the formation of additional giant planets. This process results in a sequential chain of giant planet formation.

This model provides a comprehensive explanation for the formation of gas giants and helps to understand the variety of planetary systems observed by astronomers. It emphasizes the role of disc structures in planet formation, offering a clearer picture of how giant planets develop in the universe.