Exoplanet Gliese 367 b: A Solid Ball of Metal

Scientists have discovered an exoplanet called Gliese 367 b, also known as Tahay, which is an ultra-dense planet composed almost entirely of iron. It is an outlier among Ultrashort Period (USP) planets, with a density almost twice that of Earth. The planet is believed to be the core of a once larger planet, with its rocky mantle stripped away, possibly due to collisions or intense irradiation from its star. The discovery of two additional low-mass planets in the same system further strengthens the idea that USP planets are often found in systems with multiple planets. The unusual properties of Gliese 367 b challenge current theories of planetary formation and motivate scientists to refine their understanding of these oddball planets.