JWST Observations Detail Lava Planet's Atmospheric Retention via Reflective Clouds

The James Webb Space Telescope has observed TOI-561 b, a scorching lava planet 280 light-years away, surprisingly maintaining a thick atmosphere. Scientists suggest mineral clouds reflect 75% of starlight, acting as a 'giant sunscreen,' and the atmosphere may be continuously replenished by gases from a global molten rock ocean. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about exoplanet atmospheric stability.