Latest news with #exoplanet
The Sun
a day ago
- Science
- The Sun
Terrifying new Earth-sized planet found with deadly secret that would instantly kill anyone visiting
A NEW Earth-sized planet has been discovered in a faraway constellation - and it would kill any astronaut who dare travel there. Some 117.4 light-years away from Earth, scientists have stumbled across a nightmarish alien world where the planet's surface is likely molten. 5 5 The planet, dubbed TOI-2431, orbits quite close to its nearest star over a very short period, resulting in a high surface temperature. Unlike Earth, which has an orbital period of 365 days, TOI-2431 orbits its star in only 5.4 hours - making it one of the shortest period exoplanets ever discovered. The alien world, located in constellation Cetus, is thought to have a surface temperature of about 1,700C (3092F). Anything that lands there would be immediately incinerated. The international team of astronomers, led by Kaya Han Taş of the University of Amsterdam in the Netherlands, detected the new exoplanet orbiting a nearby star using Nasa's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS). 5 "We have confirmed the ultra-short period planet TOI-2431 b using a combination of photometric transit data from TESS, precise radial velocity observations with the NEID and HPF spectrographs, and ground-based speckle imaging with the NESSI instrument," researchers wrote in the new research paper. The Nasa tool monitors about 200,000 bright stars near Earth, scanning for hidden planets that might cause any blips of light as they pass their star. Just last week, researchers revealed they used TESS to follow a repetitive flicker of starlight to a new 'Super Earth' 154 light-years away. Since its launch in April 2018, the satellite has identified more than 7,600 possible exoplanets - which are nicknamed TESS Objects of Interest, or TOI. Exactly 638 of these have been confirmed as alien worlds so far. Best-ever sign of ALIEN life found on distant planet as scientists '99.7% sure of astounding biological activity signal' The planet's host star is only about two-thirds the size and mass of our Sun, and appears to be pulling the planet towards a fiery death. Researchers estimated that the planet has a tidal decay timescale of about 31 million years - which is fairly short in the grand schemes of the universe. Tidal decay causes a planet's orbit to gradually shrink and spiral towards its host star - eventually leading to its destruction. The 2billion-year-old host star, which researchers believe is roughly double the temperature of its nearby planet, will eventually collide with the planet. Researchers hope they can secure time with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study TOI-2431 b more closely. Doing so could shed more light on the planet's surface composition, and may answer the question of whether or not it has an atmosphere. The $10 billion telescope discovered its first-ever exoplanet just last month, but has been used to analyse others on its journey through space. 5 5
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
What are these strange swirls around an infant star? 'We may be watching a planet come into existence in real time'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Astronomers have seen what appears to be a forming planet carving out a complex pattern in a disk of gas and dust around a young star. The discovery of this spiral architect could help us better understand how planetary systems like the solar system came to be. The infant extrasolar planet, or "exoplanet," is creating a spiral arm pattern in the planet-forming protoplanetary disk of the 10 million-year-old star HD 135344B, also known as SAO 206462, located in the Scorpius OB2-3 star-forming region. If 10 million years old doesn't seem particularly young, remember the sun is considered middle-aged — and its around 4.6 billion years old. The discovery of the potential planetary culprit for this swirling spiral pattern was made using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and its Enhanced Resolution Imager and Spectrograph ERIS) instrument. It may represent the first time astronomers have witnessed a planet actively forming within a protoplanetary disk. "We will never witness the formation of Earth, but here, around a young star 440 light-years away, we may be watching a planet come into existence in real time," Francesco Maio, study team leader and a researcher at the University of Florence, said in a statement. Maio and colleagues estimate this budding planet is around twice as large as Jupiter. It orbits HD 135344B at a similar distance to Neptune's orbit around the sun. That's about 30 times the distance between Earth and the sun. And as this potential planet seems to carve channels into the protoplanetary disk of HD 135344B, it is gathering material to further facilitate its growth. Baby exoplanet sweeps up stellar leftovers Stars form from overly dense cool patches in vast clouds of interstellar gas and dust, which collapse under their own gravity. As these stars continue to grow, swirling clouds of gas and dust called protoplanetary disks settle around them. It is within this disk that planets will be born. Astronomers predict that when this happens, these infant worlds sweep up material to build their own masses, creating intricate structures like rings and channels similar to the grooves in a record, and spirals resembling the spiral arms of the Milky Way. However, catching these exoplanet sculptors has been challenging. Exemplifying this is the fact that astronomers had previously detected the spiral structure of HD 135344B's protoplanetary disk, using the VLT Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet Research (SPHERE) instrument — but had missed evidence of a planet causing it. However, ERIS allowed the VLT and its operators to dive deeper into this protoplanetary disk, revealing a prime suspect for its shape: a hidden exoplanet sculptor. This potential baby planet lurks at the base of one of the disk's spiral arms. That is exactly where scientists have predicted such a spiral-sculpting infant planet should dwell. Related Stories: — New kind of pulsar may explain how mysterious 'black widow' systems evolve — Hear 'black widow' pulsar's song as it destroys companion —NASA X-ray spacecraft reveals secrets of a powerful, spinning neutron star "What makes this detection potentially a turning point is that, unlike many previous observations, we are able to directly detect the signal of the protoplanet, which is still highly embedded in the disk,' Maio explained. "This gives us a much higher level of confidence in the planet's existence, as we're observing the planet's own light." The team's research was published on Monday (July 21) in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. Solve the daily Crossword
Sustainability Times
16-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'They Finally Saw It!': James Webb Captures 14 Herculis c, the Mysterious Exoplanet Hidden in Darkness for Over Two Decades
IN A NUTSHELL 🌌 The James Webb Space Telescope has imaged 14 Herculis c, the coldest exoplanet ever captured. has imaged 14 Herculis c, the coldest exoplanet ever captured. 🔭 Located 60 light-years away, this exoplanet challenges our understanding with its unique orbital dynamics . . 🪐 The planet's orbit is highly elliptical, providing insights into planetary evolution and gravitational interactions. and gravitational interactions. 🌍 Webb's observations reveal unusual atmospheric chemistry, broadening our knowledge of distant worlds. The James Webb Space Telescope has once again pushed the boundaries of our understanding of the cosmos by capturing an image of one of the strangest exoplanets known to date. Located 60 light-years away, the exoplanet, 14 Herculis c, orbits a star similar to our Sun. What makes this discovery particularly remarkable is that 14 Herculis c is the coldest exoplanet ever directly imaged, offering astronomers a unique opportunity to study a new class of planetary bodies. This discovery not only expands our catalog of exoplanets but also opens new avenues in our quest to understand distant worlds. Expanding Our Catalog of Alien Worlds The James Webb Space Telescope has unlocked a new realm of exoplanet research with its ability to image colder planets. According to William Balmer, a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University and co-first author of the study, 'The colder an exoplanet, the harder it is to image, so this is a totally new regime of study that Webb has unlocked with its extreme sensitivity in the infrared.' Webb's image of 14 Herculis c reveals a world unlike those previously studied, broadening our understanding of the diversity among exoplanets. The central star, 14 Herculis, shares similarities with our Sun in age and temperature but is slightly less massive and cooler. This system contains two known planets, with 14 Herculis c being the focus of Webb's latest observations. The telescope's capabilities allow astronomers to observe not just hot, young exoplanets but also older, colder ones, providing a more comprehensive view of planetary evolution. 'I'm Almost Certain There Are Inhabited Planets': Astrophysicist Drops Chilling Statement That Shakes Our Place in the Universe Webb's groundbreaking observation capabilities have added invaluable data to our growing catalog of exoplanets, enhancing our ability to understand their formation and characteristics. As Balmer notes, 'We are now able to add to the catalog not just hot, young exoplanets imaged, but older exoplanets that are far colder than we've directly seen before Webb.' Weird Worlds Around 14 Herculis The 14 Herculis system presents a fascinating case study for astronomers due to its unusual planetary orbits. Unlike the orderly, flat plane of planets in our Solar System, the two exoplanets around 14 Herculis exhibit an unusual and chaotic orbital pattern. Their paths cross each other at an angle of about 40 degrees, resembling an 'X' in space. This gravitational dance suggests a tumultuous past, possibly involving the ejection of a third planet. 'NASA Unveils Cosmic Spectacle': Stunning New Images and Sounds of Andromeda Galaxy Leave Astronomers in Absolute Awe Such erratic orbits offer insights into the early formation and evolution of planetary systems. William Balmer comments, 'The early evolution of our own Solar System was dominated by the movement and pull of our own gas giants.' The gravitational interactions in the 14 Herculis system remind us of the chaotic forces that might have shaped our own cosmic neighborhood. These findings prompt astronomers to consider how similar gravitational interactions might have influenced the development of our Solar System. This intriguing system stands as a natural laboratory for studying the complex dynamics that govern planetary motion, offering a glimpse into the possible fates of nascent planetary systems. 'I Was Convinced We'd Found Aliens': Scientists Backtrack on K2-18b Breakthrough Before Revealing the Devastating Truth Webb's Investigations of 14 Herculis c Webb's observations of 14 Herculis c have revealed critical details about the planet's orbit and atmospheric composition. The planet follows a highly elliptical orbit, swinging out 1.4 billion miles from its host star. This distance positions 14 Herculis c between Saturn and Uranus in our Solar System, providing a unique opportunity for comparative analysis. Through precise measurements of the planet's brightness at 4.4 microns, Webb has allowed astronomers to infer details about its atmosphere. Daniella C. Bardalez Gagliuffi of Amherst College explains, 'If a planet of a certain mass formed 4 billion years ago, then cooled over time because it doesn't have a source of energy keeping it warm, we can predict how hot it should be today.' Interestingly, 14 Herculis c's brightness is fainter than expected, a phenomenon attributed to 'carbon disequilibrium chemistry.' In this process, molecules formed at warmer temperatures in the lower atmosphere are rapidly transported to the colder upper layers, defying conventional expectations. This unique atmospheric trait offers a valuable comparison to the coldest brown dwarfs, furthering our understanding of planetary atmospheres. Unveiling the Mysteries of 14 Herculis c The discovery of 14 Herculis c marks a remarkable milestone in our exploration of distant worlds. As the coldest exoplanet ever directly imaged, it challenges our preconceptions and expands our knowledge of planetary diversity. The unusual orbital dynamics and atmospheric characteristics of 14 Herculis c provide a rare opportunity to study the forces shaping planetary systems. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of this intriguing exoplanet, questions arise about the potential for other cold exoplanets waiting to be discovered. What other secrets do these distant worlds hold, and how might they reshape our understanding of planetary formation and evolution? The James Webb Space Telescope's ongoing exploration promises to unlock new frontiers and inspire further inquiry into the enigmatic nature of our universe. This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (28)
Emirates 24/7
16-07-2025
- Science
- Emirates 24/7
NASA discovers 'super Earth' planet emitting mysterious signal
NASA has discovered a mysterious 'super-Earth' planet that appears to flash a repeated signal from 154 light-years away. The planet, named TOI-1846 b, is almost twice the size of Earth and four times as massive. It orbits a small, cool red dwarf star every four days and causes a strange, repeated dip in the star's light, a signal that first caught scientists' attention when NASA's TESS space telescope observed the dimming pattern in March of each year. Now confirmed by a team of scientists using both space and ground-based telescopes, TOI-1846 b falls into the so-called 'radius gap,' a rare category between small, rocky planets like Earth and larger, gas-rich planets like Neptune. Despite an estimated surface temperature of 600°F, researchers say the planet may still hold water. It's believed to have a solid rocky core, a dense ice layer, and potentially even a shallow ocean or thin atmosphere. The host star is a "red dwarf," approximately 40 percent smaller in size and mass than the Sun. NASA scientists hope that the James Webb Space Telescope will soon target TOI-1846 b to study its atmosphere using infrared light. Under favourable conditions, Webb will be able to detect signs of water vapour, methane, carbon dioxide, or other gases. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Forbes
15-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
Why Bizarre Sub-Neptune Exoplanets Are So Crucial To Astrobiology
Artist's impression of a sub-Neptune planet. Most exoplanet hunters chase biosignatures the way bird dogs chase the scent of a quail. But in a talk at the European Astrobiology Institute's recent BEACON 25 conference in Reykjavik, astrophysicist Kevin Heng espouses the newfound notion of Geoastronomy. The idea is that the long road to finding signatures of life (biosignatures) on a planet beyond our solar system runs throughan epoch dominated by an interdisciplinary merger of Geology and Astronomy. The aim is to make sure that we first spectroscopically identify geological false positives in the atmospheres of extrasolar planets that are totally unlike those in our own solar system. These so-called sub-Neptunes are neither planetary fish nor fowl. They're neither terrestrial nor gaseous and range in size from about four to ten Earth masses. If we don't understand how these sub-Neptunes' chemical species are abiotically generated by the planet's geology, then when we detect them in an exoplanetary atmosphere, we could have a false positive, Kevin Heng, professor of astrophysics at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, tells me in Iceland. This is a problem that's not likely to abate anytime soon. That's because, as yet, there's no reliable formula for detecting extrasolar signatures of life (or biosignatures). Some 40 of these bizarre, geochemically-active sub-Neptunes are currently being studied observationally. But without a firm understanding of the geochemical underpinnings of a rocky planet, we cannot possibly begin to understand whether some purported disequilibrium chemistry can be attributable to a biological process, Stephen Mojzsis, a geologist at the University of Bayreuth in Germany, tells me via email. Both Heng and Mojzsis are leaders in a 10-million-euro, six-year European Research Council-funded project dubbed 'Geoastronomy.' The aim is to unite the disciplines of astrophysics and the geosciences in an effort to comprehend both the chemistry and physics of rocky exoplanets. Fear Of False Positives In his recent Iceland presentation abstract, Heng challenges his colleagues by asking: If we cannot understand hot, geologically active exoplanets without life, what chances do we have of understanding a full-blown planetary biosphere from far away? Again, this clearly is an area of astrobiology that needs attention. There are potentially hundreds of such sub-Neptunes in the local galaxy, some of which orbit their parent stars in only a few days. And even though they have puffy hydrogen-rich atmospheric envelopes, these envelopes make up just 1% of their mass. Their cores, however, are thought to be rocky and molten, which probably means that they are geochemically active. High Pressure Their cores are basically molten rock with temperatures of a few thousand degrees and with pressures 10,000 times that of Earth's surface. At these pressures, there's probably no life, and matter behaves in an unfamiliar way, so that the distinction between gases and liquids are not so distinct and matter is in this strange, exotic mix, says Heng. Too Much Gas? At some point you add so much hydrogen to this core that its hydrogen doubles the size of the core which means that the real extent of the core is the same as the real extent of the atmosphere, Heng notes in his conference talk. Arguably, the most famous sub-Neptune is K2-18b, an exoplanet which recently made global headlines due to the claim that dimethyl sulfide had been detected in its atmosphere. But Heng doesn't buy that explanation. I find K2-18b utterly uninteresting because it's a red herring; we're going from physics to biology when there's so much geology we can learn, says Heng. The sample of exoplanets from which we can learn geology is vastly bigger than the sample of so-called habitable exoplanets, he says. Science can also be impatient. Most people want to make the leap from physics to biology, but let's take what nature is teaching us, says Heng. False positives come from geology because rocks use the same gases that metabolism uses, he says. A Habitability Skeptic Because we have yet to detect any real Earth analogs; we have a sample size of one for life, says Heng. All of the so-called habitable zone planets we have found are based on the assumption that they have the same atmosphere as Earth, and we do not know that they do, he says.
