Planets May Produce Their Own Water
Researchers have discovered that some planets might generate water internally, rather than relying on outside sources.
In laboratory experiments, scientists simulated extreme conditions found within certain exoplanets by blasting olivine with high-energy lasers in the presence of hydrogen gas.
Hydrogen strips the minerals of their oxygen atoms, which then react with the hydrogen to form water.
This process may explain the existence of ocean worlds and even account for some of Earth's early water, adding a new piece to a longstanding mystery.
The discovery offers a viable explanation for water-rich exoplanets orbiting close to their host stars, according to the researchers.
Author's summary: Planets can produce water internally.