News
November 29, 2025
Hellish 2,400C ‘super Earth’ may be stuffed with GEMS & Nasa says it has ‘global’ lava ocean and ‘sparkling skies’
A FIERY hell-world that would instantly roast visitors alive has a vast lava ocean – and may be packed with rare gems. The bizarre alien world is even believed to have grown a second atmosphere after its first was destroyed. This strange and deadly planet is officially known as 55 Cancri e – also designated...
A planet so scorching it could melt steel and potentially teeming with precious gems has been captivating the attention of astronomers. Dubbed a "super-Earth" for its size – roughly twice the Earth's diameter and eight times its mass – 55 Cancri e is a truly hellish world orbiting a sun-like star about 41 light-years away in the constellation Cancer.
What makes this exoplanet so remarkable, according to NASA, is its potential composition and extreme conditions. Scientists believe 55 Cancri e boasts a "global" ocean of lava, a molten surface constantly bubbling and churning under an atmosphere that, unbelievably, might be a second attempt. It's theorized that the planet initially possessed an atmosphere which was subsequently stripped away by the intense radiation from its host star. The current atmosphere, if it exists, is likely composed of vaporized rock and other exotic compounds.
Adding to the planet's mystique, scientists speculate that the intense pressure and heat deep within 55 Cancri e could have forged vast quantities of diamonds and other rare gems. While this remains a theoretical possibility, the conditions on the planet are certainly conducive to the formation of such materials. The "sparkling skies" mentioned refer not to stars visible from the surface, but likely to the shimmering effect of light reflecting off the molten lava and vaporized particles in the atmosphere.
The surface temperature is estimated to reach a staggering 2,400 degrees Celsius (4,352 degrees Fahrenheit), hot enough to vaporize most known materials. This extreme heat is due to the planet's incredibly close proximity to its star; it completes an orbit in just 18 hours.
While 55 Cancri e is far too inhospitable for life as we know it, its study provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of planets in extreme environments. Further observations using advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope could help confirm the presence of an atmosphere, analyze its composition, and potentially even shed light on the planet's internal structure and the possibility of diamond formation. This fiery super-Earth serves as a reminder of the incredible diversity and extremes found within our vast universe.
What makes this exoplanet so remarkable, according to NASA, is its potential composition and extreme conditions. Scientists believe 55 Cancri e boasts a "global" ocean of lava, a molten surface constantly bubbling and churning under an atmosphere that, unbelievably, might be a second attempt. It's theorized that the planet initially possessed an atmosphere which was subsequently stripped away by the intense radiation from its host star. The current atmosphere, if it exists, is likely composed of vaporized rock and other exotic compounds.
Adding to the planet's mystique, scientists speculate that the intense pressure and heat deep within 55 Cancri e could have forged vast quantities of diamonds and other rare gems. While this remains a theoretical possibility, the conditions on the planet are certainly conducive to the formation of such materials. The "sparkling skies" mentioned refer not to stars visible from the surface, but likely to the shimmering effect of light reflecting off the molten lava and vaporized particles in the atmosphere.
The surface temperature is estimated to reach a staggering 2,400 degrees Celsius (4,352 degrees Fahrenheit), hot enough to vaporize most known materials. This extreme heat is due to the planet's incredibly close proximity to its star; it completes an orbit in just 18 hours.
While 55 Cancri e is far too inhospitable for life as we know it, its study provides valuable insights into the formation and evolution of planets in extreme environments. Further observations using advanced telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope could help confirm the presence of an atmosphere, analyze its composition, and potentially even shed light on the planet's internal structure and the possibility of diamond formation. This fiery super-Earth serves as a reminder of the incredible diversity and extremes found within our vast universe.
Category:
Technology