While still an undergraduate, Adams performed an investigation to try to explain the reason for the irregularities in the motion of the planet Uranus. He theorized that the unexpected planetary orbit could be due to the presence of an as yet undiscovered planet.
Sum studentur á fróðskaparsetri, granskaði Adams óregluligu rørslurnar hjá gongustjørnuni Uranus. Hansara ástøði var, at hetta óreglusemið í ringrásini kundi stavað frá eini ókendari gongustjørnu.