Webb Telescope Discovers Surprising Exoplanet Variations
The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered that the atmosphere of exoplanet Smertrios is rich in heavy elements, such as carbon and oxygen, which is unexpected for a gas giant planet. The planet's atmospheric composition is off the charts, with as much as 27 times the amount of heavy elements relative to its hydrogen and helium that we find in Saturn. The study sheds light on the diversity of chemical compositions of hot Jupiter planets and their formation, which is a fundamental mystery in our understanding of planet formation.