They used NASA’s Solar and Terrestrial Relational Observatory (STEREO) satellite and Parker Solar Probe to discover increased level of brightness surrounding Mercury.
After discovering this they were able to calculate an excess concentration of dust of approximately 3-5 percent at the centre of the ring.
Dr Howard said: “It wasn’t an isolated ting. All around the sun, regardless of the spacecrafts’s position we could see the same five percent increase in dust brightness, or density.
“That said, something was there, and it’s something that extends all around the sun.”