Scientists Crack the Code of the Galaxy's Most Mysterious Steam Worlds

Scientists Crack the Code of the Galaxy's Most Mysterious Steam Worlds

Imagine worlds where water exists in forms so exotic that they defy our everyday understanding of matter, where the familiar liquid we drink every day transforms into something that behaves like neither gas nor liquid. These aren't science fiction fantasies, but real planets that represent some of the most common worlds in our Galaxy, and scientists at UC Santa Cruz have just developed new models to understand them.

Exotic steam world exoplanets focus of new research

View larger. | Artist’s concept of the exoplanet called GJ 9827 d, which is either a super-Earth or sub-Neptune world. Astronomers believe it is a steam world, with a lot of water vapor in its hot atmosphere. A new study focuses on how to understand steam world exoplanets better. They have hot, steamy atmospheres and layers of exotic supercritical water. Image via NASA/ ESA/ Leah Hustak (STScI)/ Ralf Crawford (STScI)/ University of Montreal. St…

Scientists crack the code of the Galaxy's most mysterious steam worlds

For astrobiologists, the search for life beyond our Solar System could be likened to where one would look in a vast desert where there’s water. The most intriguing targets are planets called sub-Neptunes, which get their name because they’re larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. What makes them fascinating is that their size and […] The post Scientists crack the code of the Galaxy’s most mysterious steam worlds appeared first on Knowridge …