Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have identified a new category of exoplanets covered by global oceans of molten magma.
- These worlds are neither rocky planets nor water worlds, making them a third class dominated by molten silicate material.
- L 98-59 d, about 35 light-years from Earth, is one example, with a surface temperature of roughly 1,900°C.
- Its thick atmosphere is rich in hydrogen sulphide, producing a strong greenhouse effect and extreme conditions.