The Planet That Shouldn’t Exist: Defying the Laws of Physics

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A Planet Too Close to Survive

In 2023, astronomers discovered something extraordinary: a gas giant planet named TOI-849b that’s so close to its star, it should have been destroyed long ago.

It orbits its star in just 18 hours — far closer than Mercury is to our Sun — and the intense heat should have blown away any atmosphere or gas. Yet, it’s still there… and scientists aren’t sure why.

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Meet TOI-849b — The Exposed Core

TOI-849b is about the size of Neptune, but it’s not fluffy or made of gas. It appears to be entirely made of solid rock and heavy metals. Essentially, astronomers believe this planet is the naked core of a gas giant — something we’ve never seen before.

It’s like peeling Jupiter down to its dense heart — a direct look at what a giant planet is made of beneath its clouds.

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Why It Baffles Scientists

Planets this close to their star typically lose their atmospheres quickly. But TOI-849b is massive, dense, and intact. Some believe it may have formed differently, or perhaps lost its

gas in a violent cosmic event, such as a nearby supernova or extreme stellar winds.

Whatever happened, this planet shouldn’t exist — but it does.

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When the Universe Breaks Its Own Rules

TOI-849b is a reminder that even our most solid theories can be shaken. The universe is not just strange — it’s often stranger than we can imagine.

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