JWST Discovers Potential Limit to Brown Dwarf Formation and Reveals a Hidden Binary Star System

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made significant strides in understanding the formation of brown dwarfs and has also uncovered a previously unknown binary star system. In a study of the Flame Nebula, JWST probed the low-mass limit of star and brown dwarf formation, identifying free-floating objects with masses two to three times that of Jupiter. This suggests a potential lower mass limit for brown dwarf formation, challenging existing theories. Separately, JWST data led to the discovery that the star TAU 042021, previously studied for its planet-forming disk, is actually a binary system. This finding impacts prior research modeling the disk's evolution, as the presence of two stars alters the dynamics and structure of the disk. The stars are separated by 1.35 AU, and the system features a remarkably large disk extending up to 500 AU. These discoveries highlight JWST's capabilities in advancing our understanding of stellar and planetary formation.