For decades, astronomers regarded the exoplanet GJ 367b as a lifeless rock—blistering hot, devoid of atmosphere, and orbiting its red dwarf star so closely that any hope of habitability or dynamic activity seemed impossible. But a recent observation from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has dramatically altered that view, revealing movement on the planet’s surface that has shocked the scientific community.
The Planet: A “Dead World”
GJ 367b, located about 31 light-years away in the constellation Vela, was discovered in 2021 and quickly earned the nickname “ultra-short period planet” because it completes a full orbit around its star in just 7.7 hours. With temperatures reaching up to 1,500°C (2,732°F), the surface was thought to be scorched into complete stasis—no weather, no atmosphere, no movement. In fact, most models described it as a “dead world”—a planetary corpse too close to its star to be interesting.
A Surprise From James Webb
That all changed when the James Webb Space Telescope trained its highly sensitive instruments on GJ 367b earlier this year. While scanning the planet during its orbit, JWST picked up unexpected infrared variations that indicated movement across the surface. Scientists initially thought this might be a data glitch or interference, but repeated observations confirmed the findings.
What kind of movement, exactly? Researchers now believe the planet’s molten surface may be in constant flux—a phenomenon similar to volcanic or tectonic activity. Essentially, the planet appears to have a lava ocean that sloshes and shifts under intense stellar heat, possibly driven by internal dynamics or even gravitational interaction with its star.
Implications for Exoplanet Science
This discovery is groundbreaking. Not because GJ 367b is suddenly a candidate for life—it’s still way too hot—but because it challenges our assumptions about what “dead” planets are capable of. A world previously thought to be inert now shows signs of geological activity, which has implications for studying exoplanetary evolution and heat-driven surface dynamics.
Dr. Elena Morales, an exoplanet researcher at the
European Southern Observatory, said:
"The presence of movement on a planet like GJ 367b means we need to rethink how tidal forces and internal heat shape close-orbiting exoplanets. James Webb is helping us see these worlds as more than just scorched rocks."
A New Era of Discovery
The Webb telescope continues to break barriers in astronomy, and this recent revelation about GJ 367b proves that even the most unassuming planets may hold secrets. With its unmatched sensitivity to heat signatures and atmospheric clues, JWST may soon uncover dynamic activity on other so-called “dead” exoplanets—reshaping our understanding of the universe, one unlikely world at a time.
It turns out that in the harshest corners of space,
movement still finds a way.
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