Hycean Worlds

Hycean worlds are hot mini-Neptunes with hydrogen-rich atmospheres and vast oceans on their surfaces. The heat and the pressure wouldn’t be very inviting to us humans, but it’s possible that some forms of life might find it idyllic. these worlds can be up to 2.6x the width of Earth, up to 10 Earth masses, and temperatures in their atmospheres could reach 200 °C. However, conditions in their oceans might be more comfortable. They’re likely to be common too, nestled in between the smaller, rockier Super-Earths and the gaseous, larger mini-Neptunes. Hycean planets could be one of the most promising places to look for signs of life. Not only because they’re common, but biomarkers of life, such as methyl chloride and dimethyl sulphide, could be readily spotted in their atmospheres

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