JWST Discovers Unique Carbon-Dominated Planet Orbiting a Mysterious ‘Black Widow’ Star

Science thrives on new data, especially when it challenges our existing beliefs. This idea comes from Thomas Kuhn’s book, *On the Structure of Scientific Revolutions*. Recently, a study using data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) examined an intriguing exoplanet. This planet orbits a millisecond pulsar and has an atmosphere nearly made of pure carbon.

The pulsar, called PSR J2322-2650, is part of a “black widow” system. In these systems, the pulsar strips material from a nearby star, which then evolves into a “hot Jupiter” planet, completing its orbit every 7.8 hours. Typically, this process leads to planets with helium-rich atmospheres. However, PSR J2322-2650b tells a different story. Its atmosphere is primarily composed of carbon, specifically in forms like tricarbon (C3) or dicarbon (C2).

Surprisingly, carbon is usually found in places like comet tails or in flames on Earth. Its significant presence in a planet’s atmosphere is something scientists haven’t encountered before.

Another fascinating aspect is the difference between the planet’s day and night sides. The daytime side faces the pulsar and can reach temperatures above 2000°C, showing clear chemical signs. Meanwhile, the night side appears featureless, suggesting it’s covered in a thick layer of soot or something similar.

To underscore the peculiarity of this atmosphere, researchers looked at carbon and oxygen ratios. PSR J2322-2650b has a C/O ratio over 100, while Earth’s is just 0.01. Even the C/N ratio on this planet is enormous, exceeding 10,000 compared to Earth’s 40. This leaves scientists puzzled because it contradicts beliefs about how such planets form, especially given the impact of the companion star’s radiation in the black widow process.

Theories suggest that a white dwarf merger could create such an atmosphere, but even that doesn’t fully explain the high carbon ratios. Interestingly, other characteristics of the planet align with established theories. Models suggest that rapidly rotating planets like PSR J2322-2650b should experience strong westerly winds. JWST data corroborates this, revealing the hottest area of the planet is about 12 degrees west of its center, marking the first strong evidence of this western wind phenomenon.

In summary, PSR J2322-2650b presents a unique challenge to our scientific understanding. While it fits certain models, especially regarding wind patterns, its carbon-rich atmosphere defies expectations. Scientists will need to rethink their theories in light of these findings, and JWST is sure to keep capturing more surprising data that could lead to the next scientific breakthrough.

For more insights on the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope, you can check this article from Live Science.

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