Phoenix Rises: ‘Weird’ New Planet Defies Expectations

Phoenix, an exoplanet defying usual degradation by its nearby red giant, retains a thick atmosphere, upending assumptions about atmospheric loss and planetary decay in harsh stellar environments.

A unique exoplanet was discovered that should have been stripped down to bare rock by its nearby host star’s intense radiation, but somehow grew a puffy atmosphere instead. This is the latest in a string of discoveries forcing scientists to rethink theories about how planets age and die in extreme environments.

Nicknamed “Phoenix” for its ability to survive the radiant energy from its red giant star, the newly discovered planet illustrates the vast diversity of solar systems and the complexity of planetary evolution—especially at the end of stars’ lives.