More from SciAm

[aesmael]

It is a problem explaining the formation of planets around stars more massive than our Sun. Well, it is a problem not yet solved how they form around any star, but especially the more massive ones. The standard model of planetary formation (Not the Standard Model!*) involves a disk of gas and dust surrounding the star as it forms, and from which the planets form. But during the formation of a massive star it is expected to give off much more, and more energetic radiation than our Sun and less massive stars ever did (the very most massive of stars are not actually the brightest in the visible spectrum - their luminosity peaks in the ultraviolet [!] [I really must write up something about blackbody spectrums, etc.]) and it is thought this might blast away the disk before there is time for planets to form. But now what appears to be such a protoplanetary disk has been found around a massive young star. Alas the main article is also behind a subscription wall (this time at Science) so I cannot get at this one either.

Also, apparently massive stars form in the expected way and not via collisions. Or at least this one appears to be. Well, I was not aware of the alternative idea so, um, good?

*Yes, I think that is funny