Summary:
- The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered a "magma planet" - a rocky exoplanet that is covered in molten lava, challenging previous assumptions about the formation and evolution of planetary bodies.
- This exoplanet, named LHS 3844b, is located about 48 light-years from Earth and is believed to be tidally locked, meaning one side of the planet is permanently facing its host star, resulting in extreme temperature differences across the surface.
- The discovery of this active, lava-covered exoplanet provides new insights into the diversity of planetary systems and the processes that shape the formation and evolution of rocky worlds beyond our solar system.