Meteorite dust holds records of magnetism that may have helped form the sun
MIT researchers have discovered evidence of ancient magnetism in meteorite samples dating back 4.6 billion years. This finding suggests that magnetic fields, rather than just gravity, played a crucial role in the formation of the early solar system.
Why it matters
This discovery challenges long-standing theories about the formation of the sun and planetary disks, providing new insights into the physics of the early universe.
by Jennifer Chu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Add as preferred source Summary of high-resolution imaging of CAI 11 indicating the presence of primary magnetic phases. Credit: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2026). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2521660123 Around 4.6 billion years ago, the solar system was little more than a giant ball of gas and dust. Over the next few million years, this "solar nebula" underwent a huge transformation, flattening into a disk of matter that then condensed to form the central sun and orbiting planets.
Scientists have assumed that the early solar system was shaped mainly through gravity. But a new study finds that magnetism also likely played a role.
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