New observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have shed light on the origins and atmospheric makeup of the exoplanet WASP-121b. The discovery of multiple key molecules—water vapor, carbon monoxide, silicon monoxide, and methane—has allowed astronomers to piece together how this extreme planet may have formed and migrated through its star’s planetary system.
The detection of silicon as silicon monoxide gas points to another chapter in the planet’s history. Silicon likely entered WASP-121b's atmosphere in solid form, originally locked inside rocky bodies such as quartz-rich planetesimals.
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2025-06-03
