"Revealing the Surprising Composition of Uranus and Neptune"

A new study suggests that Uranus and Neptune may contain tons of methane ice in addition to frozen water, challenging previous beliefs about their composition. The findings could help solve the puzzle of how these icy worlds formed, as they coalesced from planetesimals rich in carbon. The study's authors built models of the planets' interiors and found that those with methane fit their criteria, with the methane forming a thick layer between the hydrogen-helium envelope and the water layer. This discovery could provide greater insight into these little-understood planets, although confirming their methane content would be challenging and may require future space missions.