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Rock, Rattle and Roll

Planetary scientists seek to fill in gaps in outer solar system’s formative years

By Nadia Drake

- More than 2 years ago

Most scientists don’t wear protective headgear while giving talks. Then again, most scientists aren’t the target of pastry-wielding colleagues.

The giant planets may have tumbled outward from the sun during their formation, growing like rolling snowballs as material was collected along the way. Nicolle Rager Fuller

ARRANGING GIANTS A well-accepted story of outer solar system evolution, called the Nice model, predicts many of the features seen in the solar system today.