A groundbreaking discovery made possible by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has unveiled tantalizing clues about TOI-270 d, a distant exoplanet located 70 light-years away. Astronomers have detected a rich blend of water vapor, methane, and carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, sparking a debate among scientists about its true nature.
TOI-270 d, twice the size of Earth, presents an intriguing possibility—it could be a water world entirely shrouded in a deep ocean. The absence of ammonia in its atmosphere hints at the presence of a vast ocean covering its surface, according to a team from the University of Cambridge led by Professor Nikku Madhusudhan. This interpretation suggests TOI-270 d might be a “hycean” world—a planet with a water ocean beneath a hydrogen-rich atmosphere.
However, a Canadian team presents a contrasting view, proposing that TOI-270 d might be too hot for liquid water, with scorching temperatures soaring to 4,000 degrees Celsius. Instead, they suggest the planet could have a rocky surface enveloped by a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and water vapor.
The absence of ammonia in TOI-270 d’s atmosphere is a critical piece of evidence, challenging scientists to unravel its mysteries. Basic chemistry suggests that ammonia should be present in a hydrogen-rich atmosphere, yet its absence raises the possibility of an ocean below that absorbed the ammonia from the atmosphere.
Despite differing interpretations, the findings underscore the remarkable capabilities of the JWST in studying exoplanets. By analyzing the light from distant stars passing through planetary atmospheres, the telescope unveils the chemical makeup of these distant worlds. Such insights provide valuable clues .
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