Magnetic fields act as brakes on scorching exoplanets
On distant gas giants where temperatures are high enough to melt iron, magnetic fields create a counterintuitive weather pattern where hotter air actually moves slower.
Astronomers studying seven massive gas giants outside our solar system discovered a phenomenon that defies basic physics. On these ultra hot Jupiters, which are tidally locked so one side always faces their star, the atmosphere reaches staggering temperatures. Usually, adding heat to a system provides more energy for movement, but on these worlds, the hotter the planet gets, the slower its winds blow.
Continue Reading in App
2 more paragraphs · plus a 2-question quiz