Super-Earth GJ 1132 b shows hints of a volcanic atmosphere, defying expectations!
Key Takeaways
- Volcanoes on GJ 1132 b may have regenerated an atmosphere after the planet lost its original one.
- This marks the first detection of a secondary atmosphere on an exoplanet.
- The gases detected in the atmosphere, like methane and hydrogen cyanide, suggest volcanic outgassing.
- Observations challenge previous theories that small, close-in planets cannot retain atmospheres.
- Future studies, especially with the James Webb Space Telescope, could confirm these findings.
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A New Lease on Life for GJ 1132 b
GJ 1132 b, a rocky exoplanet orbiting a red dwarf 40 light years away, may have reestablished an atmosphere after losing its original gaseous envelope. Researchers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory analyzed Hubble Space Telescope data, identifying gases like hydrogen cyanide and methane that point to a volcanic origin. If confirmed, this would mark the first discovery of a secondary atmosphere on an exoplanet.

Originally a small gas giant, GJ 1132 b lost its hydrogen-helium atmosphere early in its evolution due to intense radiation from its host star. Researchers believe volcanic activity later released hydrogen stored in the planet’s molten mantle, creating the current atmosphere. These findings, published in the Astronomical Journal and posted to arXiv, challenge previous assumptions that close-in rocky planets cannot retain atmospheres.
Implications for Exoplanetary Studies
Studying GJ 1132 b’s secondary atmosphere could offer new insights into the evolution of exoplanets and their internal processes. The team’s modeling supports the idea that leftover hydrogen from the primordial atmosphere could have been absorbed into the mantle and released through volcanic activity.
The findings also have broader implications for understanding super-Earths, which are thought to be the rocky cores of sub-Neptunes that have shed their gaseous envelopes. This study suggests these planets may still host atmospheres, even when located close to their host stars.
However, not all researchers are convinced. Some believe the evidence for a secondary atmosphere is tentative, citing a need for better statistical validation. The James Webb Space Telescope, with its advanced sensitivity and precision, could provide critical follow-up observations to confirm or refute these findings.
Despite the uncertainty, GJ 1132 b stands out as an exciting candidate for future atmospheric studies, offering a rare glimpse into the complex interplay between surface and atmospheric processes on rocky exoplanets.