Scientists Find Molten Planet Covered in Magma Ocean
Is L 98-59 d proof that planetary formation models are broken or just a rare cosmic oddity?
Image credit: Noticias SIN via X
The Spin
Narrative A
L 98-59 d isn't just a weird planet — this molten sulfur world, kept liquid by its own thick atmosphere rather than stellar radiation, breaks every category astronomers rely on. Missions like PLATO and ARIEL are coming, and the galaxy is almost certainly full of these strange worlds just waiting to shatter previous assumptions about how planets work.
Narrative B
While scientists claim the discovery of a "new class" of molten planet, the interpretation relies heavily on simulations and limited telescope data. The extreme sulfur atmosphere and magma ocean inferred for L 98-59 d remain indirect estimates. Without direct observation of its surface or interior, the classification could change as future measurements refine the planet's properties.