By understanding the distribution of water, carbon, oxygen and nitrogen within a given protoplanetary disk— cosmic structures of swirling gas and dust that spin around young stars and give birth to new planets — researchers should one day be able to predict the features of planets forming there — including whether they contain the ingredients for emergent life.

Project: Illustration of lede art to accompany article about the work (below); creation and illustration of graphic explainer (left).
Client: Simons Foundation