JWST Data Suggests Lava Planet TOI-561 b Retains Atmosphere via Reflective Clouds

The James Webb Space Telescope has observed that the exoplanet TOI-561 b, a scorching lava world 280 light-years away, surprisingly maintains a thick atmosphere. JWST data indicates the planet reflects about 75% of starlight, possibly due to mineral clouds acting as a 'giant sunscreen.' Scientists hypothesize that gases from a global molten rock ocean might continuously replenish this atmosphere, offering new insights into extreme planetary habitability and atmospheric dynamics.