Steam Worlds: New Models Bring Us closer to Understanding the Most Common type of Exoplanet
Santa Cruz, CA – The search for life beyond earth frequently enough boils down to a single element: water. And while the hunt for habitable, Earth-like planets continues, a new study from the University of California, Santa Cruz is focusing on a far more common type of exoplanet – “sub-Neptunes” – to unlock clues about planetary formation and, perhaps, the conditions for life elsewhere in the galaxy.
these sub-Neptunes, categorized by their size and mass falling between Earth and Neptune, are believed to be incredibly abundant throughout the universe. However, their proximity to their host stars means they aren’t likely to harbor life as we know it.Rather of liquid water oceans,these planets are thought to be “steam worlds,” shrouded in thick,scorching atmospheres of steam and layered with exotic forms of water unlike anything found on Earth.
For two decades, scientists have theorized about these steam worlds. Now,a team led