Scientists Find an Explanation for Oddball, Water-Rich Exoplanets: They Make Their Own Water
Scientists have discovered that many sub-Neptune exoplanets, which are between the size of Earth and Neptune, have significant amounts of water on their surfaces even when located close to their host stars where water should not exist. A new study suggests that these planets produce water through chemical reactions between their rocky cores and hydrogen atmospheres. Experiments show that oxygen released from silicate magma reacts with hydrogen under high pressure to create substantial water, challenging previous explanations that relied on formation beyond the snow-line or delivery by comets and asteroids.
