A combination of cosmic processes shapes the formation of one of the most common types of planets outside of our solar system, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn State. The research team used data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) to study young sub-Neptunes—planets bigger than Earth but smaller than Neptune—that orbit close to their stars. The work provides insights into how these planets might migrate inward or lose their atmosphere during their early stages.