Scientists have been working on models of planet formation since before we knew exoplanets existed. Originally guided by the properties of the planets in our Solar System, these models turned out to be remarkably good at also accounting for exoplanets without an equivalent in our Solar System, like super Earths and hot Neptunes. Add in the ability of planets to move around thanks to gravitational interactions, and the properties of exoplanets could usually be accounted for.

Today, a large international team of researchers is announcing the discovery of something our models can’t explain. It’s roughly Neptune’s size but four times more massive. Its density—well above that of iron—is compatible with either the entire planet being almost entirely solid or it having an ocean deep enough to drown entire planets. While the people who discovered it offer a couple of theories for its formation, neither is especially likely.

  • SoylentBlake@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Sounds like a gas giant that got its atmosphere ripped off from some nearby catastrophe. Like a massive gamma ray burst from a supermassive, or maybe a hungry neutron star just strolling thru the neighborhood. Or it could be the end results of a 2nd generation vampiric double star system that formed after a supernova, hence all the heavy metals. Perhaps coalescing back into a smaller star and a hot Jupiter/brown dwarf.

    Would’ve been quite the sight, I’m sure.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The article talks about that. Such bodies have been discovered. They are significantly smaller than this planet.