We’ve Found a Steam World! But Don’t Pack Your Bags Just Yet…
In the grand cosmic bingo that is the universe, scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have just marked off a rather peculiar square: the discovery of what many are hailing as the first solid evidence of a “steam world.” Yes, folks, that’s right—a planet wrapped up in a cozy blanket of wet heat, located a cool 100 light-years away in the constellation Pisces. I can already hear your excitement bubbling like the water on this steamy orb!
With over 5,700 confirmed exoplanets currently cataloged, which include everything from ice worlds to, I don’t know, “almost” habitable worlds (think water cooler gossip but with a celestial twist), GJ 9827 d stands out like a badly ironed shirt at a job interview. This planet is roughly twice the size of Earth and is flaunting an atmosphere largely made up of—you guessed it—water vapor! Talk about a planet that hasn’t heard of moisture-wicking fabric.
“We were searching specifically for water worlds because it was hypothesized that they could exist. If these are real, it really makes you wonder what else could be out there.”
This delicious little gem of a planet is thought to be shrouded in a thick water-rich atmosphere, devoid of ice or flowing water. If that doesn’t give you a bit of existential angst about our own watery abode, I don’t know what will. Scientists speculate that GJ 9827 d is what the icy moons of Jupiter, like Europa and Ganymede, might look like if they had the warm embrace of a sun rather than the cold shoulder of the outer solar system. Though let’s be real: the last thing we need is another planetary comparison to guilt-trip us into thinking we are living below our potential.
Now, hold onto your telescopes, because here’s where it gets spicy! With surface temperatures scalding at an estimated 660 degrees Fahrenheit, this exoplanet has quite the toasty orbit around its host star. For those of you sweating in disbelief, let’s put that into perspective: Earth’s average surface temperature gently hovers at a much milder 59 degrees Fahrenheit. So, unless you fancy sizzling like a bacon strip on a Friday morning, I’d recommend staying put!
What’s even juicier is the revelation by a doctoral student from the University of Montréal, Caroline Piaulet-Ghorayeb, who’s in the hot seat as the lead author of this pioneering study published (where else?) in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. She has confirmed that this is our first verified case of an exoplanet atmosphere where hydrogen is not the dominant player. It seems our friend GJ 9827 d is swimming in a different pool. No, not just any pool—the *hot* springs!
The JWST, our cosmic detective, has been using a nifty trick called transmission spectroscopy to get up close and personal with these alien atmospheres. Think of it as the universe’s version of eavesdropping—observing starlight filtered through the atmospheres of transiting exoplanets. The molecules in GJ 9827 d’s atmosphere like to play hide and seek by absorbing specific wavelengths of light. This clever game results in missing segments of the spectrum, akin to creating a cosmic rainbow that reveals the molecular composition of the atmosphere. Who knew science could be so colorful?
So my dear readers, while this steam world might sound like a perfect vacation destination, I suggest we keep our feet firmly planted on Earth for now. Unless, of course, you’ve been thinking about investing in some heat-resistant sunscreen and a fireproof suitcase—then you do you! But for the rest of us, let’s marvel at the vastness of space and ponder whether there might just be more bizarre worlds out there waiting to be discovered. Cheers to cosmic wonders!
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