"Exoplanet K2-18b: Shifting from Water to Magma"

1 min read
Source: Phys.org
"Exoplanet K2-18b: Shifting from Water to Magma"
Photo: Phys.org
TL;DR Summary

Data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) suggests that the hycean exoplanet K2-18b may have a molten surface rather than a watery ocean, challenging previous assumptions about its potential habitability. The study, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, indicates that the planet's high temperature may make it too hot to host an ocean, with evidence supporting the presence of a molten surface. The research team emphasizes the importance of considering planetary temperature in the search for habitable exoplanets and highlights the potential of JWST data for future studies.

Share this article

Reading Insights

Total Reads

0

Unique Readers

1

Time Saved

2 min

vs 3 min read

Condensed

82%

49889 words

Want the full story? Read the original article

Read on Phys.org