Worlds of Steam: The Exotic Exoplanets That Could Guide the Search for Life
Space exploration is not only focused on Earth’s twin planets. A new generation of scientific models is placing vapor worlds at the center of research, exoplanets that do not exist in our solar system but are abundant in the galaxy. Their study could transform the search for extraterrestrial life.
### What are vapor worlds
These are exoplanets intermediate between Earth and Neptune, orbiting close to their stars. There, water cannot remain liquid and forms dense vapor atmospheres. The new model led by Artem Aguichine incorporates exotic states of water – such as supercritical or superionic ice – to better understand their structure and evolution.
### Why are they important for astrobiology
Although it is unlikely that they are habitable as we understand them, their abundance in the galaxy makes them essential pieces to explain how planets form and transform. Water, with its ability to adopt multiple forms, opens up the possibility of finding new niches for life in unexpected environments.
### The role of the James Webb Telescope
In 2024, the JWST confirmed for the first time an atmosphere composed almost entirely of on the planet GJ 9827 d. Since then, it has identified similar signals on other worlds, reinforcing the need for models that link what we see in the atmosphere with what happens inside.
Challenges and Future of Exploration:
Vapor worlds are between ten and a hundred times more massive than icy moons like Europa or Enceladus. Their extreme conditions force scientists to explore new frontiers. The supercritical and superionic states, impossible to maintain in terrestrial laboratories, are now part of the calculations to understand their internal dynamics.
Missions like PLATO, scheduled to launch in 2026, will be crucial to validate these models. By identifying rocky planets in habitable zones, it will allow us to verify if the predictions about vapor worlds are correct. The knowledge gained will guide the search for life in distant worlds and refine strategies for future telescopes.
