1.   But Chen said that the evidence was insufficient to determine if the dust disk was a remnant of planet formation or a place where planets could form.

2.   If scientists learn to read these signals, they may deliver a message about the early stages of planet formation.

3.   Most scientists dismissed that possibility as extremely unlikely, but said the results nevertheless posed a challenge for theories of planet formation.

4.   They expected further study of the Upsilon Andromedae system to challenge some theories of planet formation and evolution, and probably hatch new ones.

5.   Disks are a hallmark of young stars and are believed to be regions of planet formation.

6.   If further study proves there is a planet, said Herbst, it suggests planet formation can start very early after a star is born.