Scientists Identify Molten Exoplanet with Sulfur Atmosphere, Suggest New Planetary Classification

Astronomers have identified a distant exoplanet, L 98–59 d, characterized by extreme temperatures and a molten surface. The exoplanet's surface temperature is estimated to reach 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit (1,482 degrees Celsius), which is sufficient to melt rock into an ocean of magma.

The atmosphere of L 98–59 d is believed to contain hydrogen sulfide, a gas associated with the smell of rotten eggs, indicating sulfur bubbling from the planet's interior. Located approximately 35 light-years from Earth, L 98–59 d orbits a small red star and is estimated to be about 1.6 times the size of Earth.

Astronomers have identified L 98–59 d, a distant exoplanet with extreme temperatures, a molten surface, and a sulfur atmosphere, estimated to be 1.6 times the size of Earth and located 35 light-years away.

Implications for Planetary Science

Researchers suggest that L 98–59 d may represent a previously unrecognized class of planet, challenging existing categorization systems that typically classify small planets as either rocky with thin atmospheres or water-rich worlds.

Dr. Harrison Nicholls, a lead author, stated that the discovery indicates current planetary descriptors might be oversimplified and highlights the diversity of worlds beyond our solar system.

Computer models simulate planetary processes to understand L 98–59 d's evolution, with hydrogen sulfide playing a significant role, and further research may indicate that similar planets are common.

Professor Raymond Pierrehumbert noted that these models allow for the reconstruction of alien worlds' deep pasts, revealing planet types not found in our Solar System.

The study, published in "Nature Astronomy," also suggests that studying such molten planets could offer insights into the early evolution of rocky planets, including Earth, which are thought to have originated as molten worlds before cooling over extended periods.

Related Research on Civilization Lifespans

In a separate but related area of research, a study from Sharif University of Technology addresses the Fermi Paradox, which questions the absence of observable intelligent life despite the vastness of the universe.

Physicists Sohrab Rahvar and Shahin Rouhani, in their March 2026 paper "Constraining the Lifespan of Intelligent Technological Civilization in the Galaxy," propose that advanced civilizations may have a limited lifespan of approximately 5,000 years.

Factors contributing to this hypothesized short lifespan include natural disasters (asteroids, supervolcanoes), climate change, nuclear conflict, pandemics, and artificial intelligence risks.