NASA has solved the mystery of a 'floofy' exoplanet resembling cotton candy. The planet, the size of Jupiter, may be shrinking into a super-Earth due to gravitational forces from stars. Research reveals a warm Neptune exoplanet with high internal heat flux and a large core. A new study by ASU researchers suggests that WASP-107 b is fluffy due to tidal heating, indicating significant findings in exoplanet research.
ASU researchers now say WASP-107 b is fluffy thanks to tidal heating. https://t.co/mr7krof28Y
V. important new paper. I was working on this problem ca. 2000, before i went to Georgia Tech. "This effect systematically cools the ocean by about 4W/m2 globally—with large spatio-temporal variations—and mostly enhances the large-scale heat flux" https://t.co/vdnJQIgcQy
Nature research paper: A high internal heat flux and large core in a warm neptune exoplanet https://t.co/a1h5pbvC1g
Stars give tiny planets a gravitational 'squeeze' to strip away their atmospheres https://t.co/YVR9yccKf2 https://t.co/bvRP8vgrRD
Young 'cotton candy' exoplanet the size of Jupiter may be shrinking into a super-Earth https://t.co/N2ezmy8lf9 https://t.co/DecNnPBX58
NASA solves mystery of 'floofy' planet https://t.co/3g6sXi08AY