Astronomy current events question: magnetic loops in planet-forming disks

Astronomy 210L, spring semester 2014
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Students are assigned to read online articles on current astronomy events, and take a short current events quiz during the first 10 minutes of lab. (This motivates students to show up promptly to lab, as the time cut-off for the quiz is strictly enforced!)

Whitney Clavin, "Mystery of Planet-forming Disks Explained by Magnetism," March 6, 2014
http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/spitzer/planet-forming-20140306/index.html

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientists proposed that additional infrared light from gas orbiting young stars is caused by:
(A) black hole formation.
(B) giant magnetic loops.
(C) cold fusion.
(D) asteroid belt collisions.
(E) dark matter.

Correct answer: (B)

Student responses
Sections 30678, 30679, 30680
(A) : 1 student
(B) : 34 students
(C) : 1 student
(D) : 8 students
(E) : 2 students