he nebular hypothesis is the most widely accepted model incosmogony explaining the formation and

evolution of the Solar System, which suggests that it formed from nebulous material in space. The
hypothesis offers explanations for some of the Solar System's properties, including the nearly circular
and coplanar orbits of the planets, and their motion in the same direction as the Sun's rotation. According
to the hypothesis, Sun-like stars form over about 100 million years, in massive, gravitationally unstable
clouds of molecular hydrogen (giant molecular clouds). Matter coalesces to smaller, denser clumps
within, which then proceed to both rotate and collapse, forming stars. Star formation produces a
gaseous protoplanetary disk around the young star, which may give birth to planets (protoplanetary disk
pictured in the Orion Nebula). The formation of planetary systems is thought to be a natural result of star
formation, with dense terrestrial planets forming closer to the star and colder giant planets forming further
away, beyond the so-called frost line. Originally applied only to our own Solar System, the nebular
hypothesis is now thought to be at work throughout the universe. (Full article...)
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Did you know...
From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that Modesta Avila (pictured) was the first convicted felon and first state prisoner from Orange
County, California?
... that a critic cited the roguelike, bullet hell, brawler Crawl as an example of the indie resurgence
of couch co-op?
... that the song "I'm Not Your Hero" by Tegan and Sara is based on Sara's life as a teenager
unable to identify with the lives of pop-culture figures, as well as her political views and
sexuality?
... that the German actor Eduard von Winterstein was born in Vienna and took acting lessons
from his mother, who was of Hungarian origin?
... that female Kaie rock frogs can feed their tadpoles with trophic eggs?
... that in 1893 Johannes strup rode on horseback for 60 days from Istanbul to Copenhagen?
... that the American actor Jon Cryer described the 2014 film Hit by Lightning as "sort of a
mixture of Body Heat meets The 40-Year-Old Virgin"?
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In the news

Researchers announce that newly describedDendrogramma specimens may
represent a previously unknown phylum of animal life.
Archaeologists announce the discovery of the oldest knownabstract
art (pictured) attributed to Neanderthals, inGorham's Cave, Gibraltar.
Hamas and Israel agree to a long-term ceasefire brokered by Egypt afterseven
weeks of conflict.
At the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards, Modern Family wins Outstanding
Comedy Series and Breaking Bad wins Outstanding Drama Series.
A copy of the 1938 Action Comics#1 is auctioned for US$3.2 million, the
highest price paid for a single issue of a comic book.
Ongoing: Ebola outbreak Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Ukrainian conflict
Recent deaths: Joan Rivers
On this day...
September 5

1774 In response to the British Parliament enacting theIntolerable Acts,
representatives from twelve of Britain'sNorth American colonies convened
the First Continental Congress at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia.
1793 French Revolution: The National Conventionbegan the Reign of
Terror, a ten-month period of systematic repression and mass executions
by guillotine of perceived enemies within the country.
1914 World War I: The First Battle of the Marne began with French forces
engaging the advancing German army at the Marne River nearParis.
1945 Cold War: Soviet cipher clerk Igor Gouzenko defected to Canada with
over 100 documents on Soviet espionage activities and sleeper agents.
1977 NASA launched the robotic space probe Voyager 1 (pictured),
currently the farthest spacecraft from Earth.
More anniversaries: September 4 September 5 September 6
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From today's featured list

Sixty county courts in Wales have closed since the modern system of county courts in England and Wales was established by the County Courts Act 1846. In all, 80 towns and cities in Wales
have held county courts since 1847, and only 20 county courts in Wales are still open. The first closure wasFishguard in 1856. Newbridge was the location of a county court for the shortest
period for only five months in 1856. Blaenavon is the only town in Wales to have a county court close and then reopen, both events taking place in 1938. The volume of court business declined
during the Second World War and some little-used courts, including Presteigne and Llandeilo, were closed as a result. The most recent opening of a county court took place in Caerphilly in 1965,
although this closed in 2000. Monmouth was based in the Shire Hall (pictured) until the court was closed in 2002 because of the poor standard of the court accommodation. The most recent
closures are the county courts in Aberdare and Pontypool, which closed on 1 August 2011. (Full list...)
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