In a major astronomical breakthrough, researchers have confirmed the existence of a substantial secondary atmosphere on the molten Super-Earth 55 Cancri e, rewriting the rules of planetary resilience.
INTERNATIONAL - In a discovery that challenges established theories of planetary formation, astronomers utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have confirmed the presence of a thick, volatile atmosphere surrounding 55 Cancri e, a rocky "Super-Earth" located 41 light-years away. Despite surface temperatures soaring to 2,300 degrees Celsius-hot enough to melt rock-the planet has managed to maintain a substantial envelope of gas, likely composed of carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. The findings, solidified by research released in late 2025, represent the best evidence to date of a rocky planet atmosphere outside our solar system.
For years, 55 Cancri e has been a subject of intense scrutiny. Orbiting dangerously close to its host star, completing a revolution in less than 18 hours, the planet was widely assumed to be a stripped core-a bare rock scoured clean of any atmosphere by stellar radiation. However, new data from JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) has ruled out the "rock vapor" scenario, pointing instead to a secondary atmosphere constantly replenished by a magma ocean.
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The journey to this confirmation has been marked by scientific debate. Initial studies were inconclusive, hovering between the possibility of a bare rock or a thin atmosphere. However, according to reports published in Astronomy & Astrophysics in May 2025, the latest analysis of the MIRI/LRS spectrum suggests a "thick volatile envelope." This contradicts earlier models that predicted such a hot planet could not hold onto volatile gases.
By October 2025, further data cemented these findings. Researchers ruled out a primordial atmosphere made of hydrogen and helium-common in gas giants but rare on rocky worlds near their stars-and instead identified signatures consistent with heavier gases. According to Wikipedia summaries of the 2024-2025 findings, the evidence now strongly supports an atmosphere rich in carbon dioxide (CO2) or carbon monoxide (CO).
"This discovery is the clearest piece of information we have obtained so far for 55 Cancri e. The discovery would not be possible without the James Webb Space Telescope, which allows researchers to study exoplanets with greater precision than ever before." - Dragomir, University of New Mexico
How does a planet maintain an atmosphere while being blasted by its star from point-blank range? The prevailing theory, supported by recent Sky & Telescope reports, suggests the atmosphere is "secondary." Unlike the primary atmosphere captured during the planet's formation, this secondary atmosphere is likely being generated from within.
Experts believe 55 Cancri e possesses a global magma ocean. As the molten rock churns, it releases dissolved gases-a process known as outgassing. This continuous supply of carbon-rich gas acts as a shield, replenishing the atmosphere faster than the star's radiation can strip it away. This dynamic interaction between the interior geology and the exterior atmosphere offers a new model for understanding rocky exoplanets.
The composition of this atmosphere aligns with the planet's exotic history. Previous studies have suggested 55 Cancri e could be a "diamond planet," composed largely of carbon compressed under immense pressure. The confirmation of a CO or CO2-rich atmosphere reinforces the carbon-heavy model of the planet's geochemistry.
While 55 Cancri e itself is uninhabitable-with temperatures melting surface rock-the implications of this discovery are profound for the search for life elsewhere. As noted by Drishti IAS, finding a thick atmosphere on such a hostile world "offers hope for finding other rocky planets with thick atmospheres."
Historically, astronomers feared that rocky planets orbiting red dwarf stars (the most common type of star in the galaxy) would have their atmospheres stripped away by stellar flares. If 55 Cancri e can maintain a volatile envelope despite even more extreme conditions, it suggests that cooler, potentially habitable rocky planets might also retain their atmospheres. This expands the definition of the "habitable zone" and increases the statistical likelihood of finding Earth-like conditions elsewhere.
The scientific community is now pivoting from detection to characterization. According to papers published on arXiv in May 2025, future observations will focus on resolving "current degeneracies in models." Specifically, scientists aim to measure the precise ratio of gases to understand the planet's interaction with its melt.
This breakthrough validates the capabilities of the JWST to analyze the atmospheres of smaller, rocky worlds, a feat previously reserved for gas giants. With the door now open, astronomers are expected to turn their lenses toward cooler Super-Earths, applying the lessons learned from 55 Cancri e to hunt for biosignatures in the atmospheres of worlds that might just support life.
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