Scientists find Uranus and Neptune may have different origins
An international team of scientists has used atmospheric tracers to suggest that the ice giants Uranus and Neptune formed in different regions of the solar system.
Chemical differences revealed by new data
Researchers indirectly probed the depths of both planets to measure their chemical composition. The analysis shows that Neptune contains more oxygen than Uranus. This contrast challenges the long-held view that these two worlds share a common origin story.
Tracers used to see deep layers
Scientists identified carbon monoxide as a key tracer because it moves through cloud layers to observable altitudes. Its concentration provides a window into the deep atmosphere where direct observation is impossible. Only the Voyager 2 spacecraft has previously flown by these planets in 1986 and 1989.
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