Molten Lava Planet Discovered

0:00On March 16th, astronomers have spotted what might be a brand new kind of planet, one that's basically a ball of molten lava. This world, called L98-59D, sits in a mushy, gooey state from surface to deep inside, with a possible molten core too. It's not like the rocky or watery planets we usually think of. The surface there hits 1,900 degrees Celsius, or 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The title pulls from nearby planets with stir of huge waves in the magma ocean, and the air is thick with hydrogen sulfide, giving off a rotten egg. Smell everywhere. Scientists say it's no place for life as we know it, but they love how alien it feels. Before the James Webb Space Telescope, we could only guess at exoplanet details by watching them dim their star's light. Now, it reads the gases in their atmospheres for a clearer picture. Two computer models trace the planet's life from birth to now, showing a global magma ocean thousands of kilometers deep.

1:03That layer traps gases like sulfur, keeping them around for billions of years despite everything trying to strip them away. This spine reminds us that even planets in habitable zones could be molten surprises. It opens the door to discovering all sorts of wild worlds out there.