Planetary Formation Around Binaries

A new computer simulation developed at the Carnegie Institution suggests that planets can form and survive around binary star systems. Astronomers previously believed that the complex gravity would make gas and dust too unstable to form planets, but this simulation indicates that this gravity might actually accelerate the process, causing large clumps to form in a matter of only 1,000 years. Since 2 out of 3 stars are members of multiple star systems, this raises the number of planets that might be in the Universe. (From UniverseToday.com)