New Planet Finds: A Strange World of Lava Oceans and Sulfur Skies

Scientists have spotted a planet that doesn’t fit the usual categories we know. The world, called L 98‑59 d, was first spotted in 2019 but recent telescope data has opened a window into its bizarre climate. It is about one and a half times bigger than Earth, both in size and mass, making it a rocky planet. Yet, its surface is likely covered by rivers of molten rock instead of water or ice. The atmosphere is unusual too. Researchers found gases such as sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, which smell like rotten eggs when they burn. This suggests the planet once had a lot of sulfur and hydrogen, leaving behind a “volatile‑rich” air layer that has survived for billions of years.

These traits do not match the two common models for planets of this size. In a gas‑dwarf model, a rocky core gathers only a thin shell of hydrogen and helium. In a water‑world scenario, the planet would hold large amounts of liquid or frozen water. L 98‑59 d shows neither; its mantle is likely made of hot silicate rock, and the atmosphere points to a different formation history. The planet is located 35 light years from Earth, far enough that it would be a hostile place for life as we know it. Still, studying such an alien environment helps scientists understand the variety of planetary systems that exist beyond our solar system.

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