Key Takeaways:
- 1. Astronomers suggest that “steam worlds” could provide insights into where life may exist beyond Earth.
- 2. Sub-Neptune planets, larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, are the most common type of exoplanet and have dense vapor atmospheres.
- 3. New models by UC Santa Cruz researchers explore how water behaves under extreme conditions within sub-Neptunes, including supercritical fluids and superionic ice.
Astronomers are investigating "steam worlds" to understand potential habitats for life beyond Earth. Sub-Neptune planets with dense vapor atmospheres are being studied using new models from UC Santa Cruz, which examine the behavior of water under extreme pressures and temperatures. These findings aim to help guide future missions, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, in exploring these planets and their potential for supporting life.
Insight: Studying the interiors of sub-Neptunes, which are the most common type of exoplanets, could offer new insights into planetary evolution and potential habitable environments beyond our solar system.
This article was curated by memoment.jp from the feed source: The Debrief.
Read the original article here: https://thedebrief.org/bizarre-steam-worlds-could-offer-new-clues-in-the-search-for-alien-life/
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