Webb Finds Thick Atmosphere on Scorching Lava World TOI-561 b, Challenges Planet Theories

• NASA's James Webb Space Telescope detected the strongest evidence of a thick atmosphere around TOI-561 b, an ultra-hot super-Earth.
• TOI-561 b orbits its star in less than 11 hours, is tidally locked, and likely has a global magma ocean due to extreme heat.
• Webb measured the dayside temperature at 3,200°F, significantly cooler than the expected 4,900°F without an atmosphere.
• This cooler temperature suggests heat redistribution by a volatile-rich atmosphere with strong winds, challenging prior assumptions about small planets.
• The discovery implies an equilibrium between magma and atmosphere, potentially reflecting early universe conditions around its iron-poor star.

Why It Matters: Webb's discovery of a thick atmosphere on TOI-561 b redefines understanding of exoplanet habitability.