The James Webb Space Telescope has observed an unusual atmosphere around the exoplanet 55 Cancri e, a super-hot rocky world with vast regions covered in oceans of molten lava.

Analysis revealed significant amounts of hydrogen in its atmosphere, suggesting ongoing geological activity beneath the planet’s surface.

Located about 41 light-years from Earth, 55 Cancri e was discovered in 2004. It is roughly twice the size of Earth and about eight times more massive, completing a full orbit around its star in just 0.7 days.

Due to its extreme proximity to its star, surface temperatures are high enough to melt rock into lava oceans.

Recent data show that its atmosphere is primarily composed of carbon monoxide, with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, alongside unexpectedly high levels of hydrogen, indicating chemical processes that differ significantly from those on Earth.