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Webb observations reveal distorted, changing and mineral-rich atmospheres on alien worlds

Recent studies are moving beyond simplified pictures of distant atmospheres: researchers have mapped a scorching exoplanet’s deformed shape, tracked water-cloud changes on a nearby brown dwarf 7.5 light-years away, and identified gemstone-like material in a hot, marshmallow-like exoplanet’s atmosphere. The findings illustrate the range of atmospheric phenomena astronomers can investigate.

2026-10-16T11:05:33.362520-07:00

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Webb observations reveal distorted, changing and mineral-rich atmospheres on alien worlds

Recent studies are moving beyond simplified pictures of distant atmospheres: researchers have mapped a scorching exoplanet’s deformed shape, tracked water-cloud changes on a nearby brown dwarf 7.5 light-years away, and identified gemstone-like material in a hot, marshmallow-like exoplanet’s atmosphere. The findings illustrate the range of atmospheric phenomena astronomers can investigate.

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