The Vast Subsurface Ocean and Nitrogen Envelope of Exoplanet LHS 1140 b
LHS 1140 b stands as one of the most significant astronomical discoveries of the twenty-first century, representing a rare class of celestial bodies known as " water worlds ." Located approximately 48 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cetus , this super-Earth orbits a small, cool M-dwarf star designated LHS 1140. While many exoplanets in this size range are classified as either barren rocky spheres or gas-shrouded mini-Neptunes, recent high-precision spectroscopy and transit data have revealed that LHS 1140 b possesses a massive liquid water component, potentially comprising up to 20 percent of its total mass. The physical profile of LHS 1140 b is defined by its immense density and its unique position within its stellar system. With a radius approximately 1.7 times that of Earth and a mass roughly 5.6 times greater, the gravitational pull on the surface is significantly higher than what is experienced in the inner Solar System. This high gravity facilitates th...