An artist’s concept of the lava world TOI-561 b and its star. Credit: CryoDragon Inc.

The exoplanet TOI-561 b is fascinating to observe from 280 light-years away—but it’s not a place anyone would want to visit. Not only is it blanketed by an ocean of molten lava , but TOI-561 b is constantly bombarded by destructive radiation from its host star. The planet endures so much stellar energy that astronomers have long assumed its atmosphere evaporated eons ago.

However, new observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) contradict those initial conceptions. After examining TOI-561 b for 37 hours—almost four complete orbits—researchers now believe the planetary lava lamp actually features a thick atmospheric shell. The surprising evidence recently detailed in The Astronomical Journal isn’t what scientists assumed from a planet under such stellar duress.

“Our discovery challenges current theories,” said study co-author and University of Birmingham astronomer Anjali Piette .…