'Alien planet hotter than Venus': TOI-270 d stuns scientists with molten mystery
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
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Alien furnace
TOI-270 d is a super-Earth with a searing atmosphere above 1,000°F—hotter than Venus—revealed by data from the James Webb Space Telescope.
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Molten core
Researchers believe the planet has a rocky surface covered by molten lava, fueling a thick, volatile atmosphere full of exotic chemistry.
Missing ammonia
Despite expectations, ammonia was absent. Extreme heat and magma chemistry may be destroying it before it reaches atmospheric levels.
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Gas switch
Instead of ammonia, the atmosphere may contain nitrogen gas, formed through high-temperature reactions previously unaccounted for in models.
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Rosetta planet
Dubbed the “Rosetta Stone” of exoplanets, TOI-270 d could unlock secrets of a whole class of worlds we’ve never seen in our solar system.
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No Hycean
While once thought to be a Hycean world with oceans and hydrogen skies, new data suggests TOI-270 d is far more hostile and dry.
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Carbon cocktail
Molecules like carbon dioxide, methane, and water were detected—offering deep clues into the planet’s origin and geochemical evolution.
Chemical clues
This planet offers scientists a chance to explore how different materials form atmospheres under extreme heat—redefining how rocky planets evolve.
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Exoplanet blueprint
TOI-270 d helps rewrite the planetary playbook, showing how even familiar building blocks can lead to wildly different outcomes.
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