Protoplanet formation is a field of research within planetary science that focuses on the process by which planets and moons form from the dust and gas present in protoplanetary disks around young stars. This research area seeks to understand the mechanisms and timescales involved in the accretion and growth of planetesimals, the early building blocks of planets, as well as the dynamics of interactions between these objects. Scientists study a variety of factors that influence protoplanet formation, such as the gravitational interactions between bodies in the disk, the role of turbulence and viscosity in the disk, and the effects of magnetic fields and other forces. By studying protoplanet formation, researchers aim to gain insight into the origins and evolution of our own solar system, as well as the formation of planetary systems around other stars.