‘A molten, mushy state’: scientists may have found a new type of liquid planet

The Guardian - World NewsEN 3 min read 100% complete by Hannah Devlin Science correspondentMarch 16, 2026 at 11:00 AM

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medium article 3 min

Astronomers have identified a potential new type of planet, L98-59d, located 35 light years away, which may be a molten lava world. This planet, about 1.6 times the size of Earth, orbits a red dwarf star and was initially considered a possible water world. However, new analysis suggests it's primarily molten, with surface temperatures reaching 1,900C and an atmosphere rich in hydrogen sulphide. Researchers used computer simulations and data from the James Webb Space Telescope, which analyzed starlight filtered through the planet's atmosphere, to determine its composition. The presence of a sulphur-rich atmosphere, maintained for billions of years, suggests a deep magma ocean and possibly a molten core, differentiating it from typical rocky or water-based planets.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Earth 60% University of Oxford 60% James Webb Space Telescope 70% Harrison Nicholls ×480% L98-59d ×590%

Keywords

liquid planet 100% molten lava 90% l98-59d 80% magma ocean 70% exoplanet 60% sulphur-rich atmosphere 50% planetary science 50% james webb space telescope 40%