Webb Telescope spots “impossible” atmosphere on ancient super Earth

Astronomers using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovered the first clear evidence of an atmosphere around a rocky exoplanet, the ancient super Earth TOI-561 b that orbits its star in just 10.56 hours. The planet should be too small and hot to retain gas, but temperature measurements revealed it's 1,700 degrees cooler than expected, indicating a thick atmosphere redistributes heat. Scientists believe this "wet lava ball" maintains its atmosphere through recycling, where gases escape from the molten surface while being continuously replenished from the planet's volatile-rich interior.