All it’s worthwhile to know in regards to the planet that smells like rotten eggs
Need to know
Boffins have sniffed out a 1,500°C magma world 34 light-years away that reeks of rotten eggs due to its toxic, sulfur-rich atmosphere and mushy liquid structure
The planet’s surface is dominated by a never-ending ocean of liquid lava(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
- Scientists have identified a planet 34 light-years away that is saturated with hydrogen sulfide gas. The chemical is famous for producing a powerful stench similar to rotten eggs or sulfur.
- The planet orbits a red dwarf star at a very close distance, causing its surface to reach a boiling hellscape state. Temperatures on this world are estimated to exceed 1,500°C, making it uninhabitable for any known form of life.
- Researchers have classified L 98-59 d as a brand-new type of planet because it lacks a solid crust or distinct internal layers. Instead of having a mantle or “skin” like Earth, the planet consists of a single, deep, mushy layer.
- The surface is dominated by a never-ending ocean of liquid lava rather than solid rock. Hidden deep within this molten sea are massive stores of sulfur that contribute to the planet’s toxic environment.
- Although the planet was first spotted in 2019, recent data reveals it has a strangely low density for its size. This suggests that the planet’s volume is significantly influenced by its thick, scorching, and gas-heavy atmosphere.
- The detailed insights were made possible by combining ground-based technology with the power of the James Webb Space Telescope. The combination allowed scientists to sniff out the specific chemical markers in the planet’s air from across the cosmos.
- The concentration of hydrogen sulfide is so high that the human nose would detect it instantly, even at one part per billion. However, a human would be unable to survive the extreme heat and toxicity long enough to actually process the smell.
- While this world seems uniquely bizarre, researchers suggest that pungent planets like this might be more common than we think. Future observations are needed to determine if these sulfur-rich magma worlds are a standard feature of other star systems.
- Read the full story here: https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/space-boffins-sniff-out-giant-36886389
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
