Is this the real "water ball" in the universe? With more than 10% of water, it can "kill" the earth in seconds!

Author: Huang Xianghong Duan Yuechu

In the depths of the vast universe, there are countless mysteries waiting for human beings to explore and reveal. Recently, a major discovery by the James Webb Space Telescope has attracted the attention of the global scientific community like a bright firework blooming in the night sky - an "ocean planet" named LHS 1140b has emerged.

LHS 1140b (Image credit: NASA)

The research results were published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. An international research team discovered the uniqueness of this exoplanet for the first time through observation data from the James Webb Space Telescope. As a potentially habitable exoplanet, LHS 1140b will undoubtedly become an important target for future astronomical and life science research. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, we are expected to gain a deeper understanding of this water-filled world in the future, and perhaps even discover traces of alien life in it.

When we look down at the Earth from space above the center of the Pacific Ocean, we will be surprised to find that the Earth is like an ocean planet. The vast blue ocean occupies 71% of the Earth's surface area, while land accounts for only 29%. The Earth, our home, is indeed worthy of the title of "Ocean Planet". Together with lakes, rivers, glaciers and other water bodies on land, the water on Earth is rich and diverse. It is estimated that there are about 135 trillion cubic meters of water on Earth, which is a huge number, but it seems insignificant compared to the newly discovered LHS 1140b.

Source: NASA

LHS 1140b is located in the constellation Cetus, about 48 light-years away from the solar system. This mysterious planet has been captured many times by advanced astronomical observation equipment such as the Hubble Telescope and the exoplanet detector "TESS" in the past few years. Through precise measurements, researchers have determined a series of its key parameters. The mass of this planet is about 5.6 times that of the Earth, and its diameter is about 1.7 times that of the Earth. This proportional relationship suggests that the density of this rocky planet is low, and it is this feature that has aroused scientists' strong research interest.

Amazing amount of water

What really makes LHS 1140b the focus of the scientific community is its astonishing amount of water. Observations have found that the water on this planet accounts for 10% - 20% of the mass of the planet. What an amazing proportion! In comparison, the total mass of water in the Earth's oceans accounts for only about 0.0226% of the mass of the Earth, which means that the mass of water in the Earth's oceans is less than 0.0000% of the total mass of the Earth. This planet is numbered LHS 1140b. Through the near-infrared instrument observation data of the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have confirmed for the first time that it is not an atmospheric shell with hydrogen and helium as previously believed, but is most likely an ocean planet. It is located in the habitable zone of its host star, and the planet is likely to have a huge amount of water, accounting for 10% - 20% of the total mass of the planet. This means that the mass of water on this planet is equivalent to 0.56 - 1.12 times the mass of the Earth, or nearly 5,000 times the total amount of water in the Earth's oceans.

If such a huge amount of water is evenly distributed on the surface of this planet, the depth of the water can reach about 2,000 kilometers, or 2 million meters. This depth is far beyond the depth of the ocean on the surface of the earth. On the earth, the deepest Mariana Trench is only about 11 kilometers. You can imagine how deep and vast the ocean on LHS 1140b is. On such a planet, there are basically no islands protruding above the sea level. The entire planet should look like water, a veritable "water ball".

The mystery of the origin and formation of water

So where does the abundant water on LHS 1140b come from? And how is it formed? This is a major mystery that puzzles scientists, and it also opens a door to the mysteries of the universe for us.

Scientists believe that the formation of water on LHS 1140b may be closely related to the planet formation process and its position in the galaxy. In the early stages of planet formation, a large amount of water ice may have gathered along with dust and gas. The universe is full of various substances. Under certain conditions, water ice can combine with other substances and gradually form part of a planet. When these water ices gather in sufficient quantities, they lay the foundation for the abundant water resources on LHS 1140b.

In addition, the moderate distance between LHS 1140b and its star may also provide conditions for the existence of liquid water on its surface, forming a vast ocean on the surface of the planet or below the surface. In the universe, the radiation and heat of stars play a vital role in the environment of the surrounding planets. If the planet is too close to the star and the temperature is too high, water may exist in gaseous form; if the distance is too far and the temperature is too low, water may exist in solid form. The distance between LHS 1140b and its host star is just right, allowing water to exist in liquid form, providing the possibility for the birth and development of life.

Research significance and future prospects

The research results on LHS 1140b have great scientific significance. First, it reveals to us the diversity and complexity of planet formation in the universe. In the past, our understanding of exoplanets has mainly focused on those rocky planets similar to the Earth. However, the discovery of LHS 1140b makes us realize that there are a large number of planets in the universe that are completely different from the Earth, and their environments and characteristics may be beyond our imagination.

Secondly, this "ocean planet" provides a new direction for us to search for extraterrestrial life. Water is one of the important conditions for the existence of life, and the abundant water resources on LHS 1140b increase the possibility of life. Although we have not yet found signs of life on this planet, with the continuous advancement of science and technology, we are expected to gain a deeper understanding of this water-filled world through more advanced observation equipment and detection methods in the future, and it is even possible to find traces of extraterrestrial life in it.

LHS 1140b will undoubtedly become an important target for future space exploration. Through further observation and research, scientists can learn about the planet's atmospheric composition, geological structure, ocean circulation, and other aspects, so as to better understand its formation and evolution. At the same time, this will also provide us with impetus for the development of more advanced space exploration technology and promote the continuous advancement of human exploration of the universe.

International Cooperation and Research Team

This major discovery is the result of the joint efforts of an international scientific research team. Scientists from different countries and regions came together to conduct in-depth research on exoplanets in the universe using advanced observation equipment such as the James Webb Space Telescope. Their cooperation transcends national boundaries and disciplines, fully embodying the spirit of science without borders.

This international scientific research team is composed of many top astronomers, physicists, chemists, etc. With their outstanding expertise and innovative research methods, they continue to move forward on the road of cosmic exploration. Through precise measurements and analysis, they discovered the uniqueness of LHS 1140b for the first time, opening a new window for us to understand the mysteries of the universe.

Publication and impact of research results

This research result was published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, which has attracted wide attention from the global scientific community. The Astrophysical Journal Letters is an internationally authoritative academic journal in astronomy, which has published many scientific research results with great influence. The discovery of LHS 1140b has undoubtedly added a shining pearl to the journal.

This discovery not only caused a sensation in the field of astronomy, but also had a profound impact on other related disciplines. For example, scientists in the fields of earth science and life science can gain inspiration from this discovery to further explore the origin and evolution of life on Earth and search for other planets where life may exist. At the same time, it has also aroused the public's strong interest in space exploration and allowed more people to understand the mystery and beauty of the universe.

Challenges and opportunities of space exploration

Although we have made many significant achievements in space exploration, we still face many challenges. First, the vast distances of the universe make our observation and detection extremely difficult. Even with the most advanced astronomical telescopes, we can only see a small part of the universe. Moreover, due to distance limitations, our understanding of exoplanets is still very limited, and much information can only be obtained through indirect methods.

Secondly, technological limitations are also an important issue we face. Current space exploration technology is not advanced enough to conduct in-depth exploration and research of exoplanets. For example, we cannot directly detect signs of life on exoplanets, nor can we determine key information such as their atmospheric composition and geological structure.

However, challenges are often accompanied by opportunities. With the continuous advancement of science and technology, we are expected to develop more advanced observation equipment and detection methods, break through the limitations of distance and technology, and better understand the mysteries of the universe. For example, future space telescopes may have higher resolution and sensitivity, and be able to observe the details of exoplanets more clearly. At the same time, the application of technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data will also provide new means and methods for cosmic exploration.

Revelation to Humanity

The discovery of LHS 1140b has made us deeply aware of the vastness and mystery of the universe. In this vast universe, we humans are just tiny existences. However, it is this tinyness that inspires our desire and courage to explore the unknown. Through the exploration of the universe, we can not only learn more about the mysteries of the universe, but also better understand ourselves and the earth we live on.

This "ocean planet" also reminds us to cherish the water resources on Earth. Although the water on Earth is abundant, it is so scarce compared to LHS 1140b. We should pay more attention to the protection and rational use of water resources, avoid waste and pollution, and leave a beautiful Earth for our future generations.

In short, the discovery of LHS 1140b is an important milestone in the history of human exploration of the universe. It reveals to us a world full of mysteries and miracles in the universe, and also provides new directions and motivations for our future exploration. I believe that in the near future, we will be able to understand this "ocean planet" more deeply, and even discover more similar planets in the universe, making greater contributions to the development and progress of mankind.