Astronomers confirm turbulent movements in the gas disk around the star DM Tau

Star system: DM Tauri | Distance from the Sun: 470 light years

Scientists using the ALMA observatory have confirmed the presence of significant turbulence within the protoplanetary disk—a swirling ring of gas and dust—surrounding the young star DM Tau. By analyzing millions of computer models against high-resolution observations of carbon monoxide gas, they found that the gas moves faster than can be explained by temperature alone.

This 'non-thermal' movement, or turbulence, is roughly 40% of the speed of sound in that environment and is crucial for understanding how material falls toward a star and how planets begin to form. Furthermore, the study identified small irregularities in the gas flow that might be the hidden fingerprints of newly forming planets within the disk.

Scientific study

exoALMA XIX: Confirmation of Non-thermal Line Broadening in the DM Tau Protoplanetary Disk (external link)