How dusty hamburgers feed young stars and help them grow

How dusty hamburgers feed young stars and help them grow

For the first time, scientists have observed an accretion disk – also referred to as a dusty hamburger – around a young star. An accretion disk is formed by diffused material in orbital motion around a central body that is typically a star. Gravity then causes material in the disk to spiral inward towards the central body. Here, they explain how this disk feeds the central young star during the onset of an extra-solar system. Apr 21, 2017