Rare Element Found in Atmosphere of Exoplanet by Scientists

Scientists at Lund University in Sweden have discovered the rare metal terbium in an exoplanet’s atmosphere for the first time. The researchers used a new method for analyzing exoplanets, which allowed them to study the celestial body, KELT-9 b, in more detail. KELT-9 b is the hottest exoplanet in the galaxy, with an average temperature of 4,000 degrees Celsius. The researchers were able to filter out dominant signals in its atmosphere, revealing the presence of terbium and six other elements. Terbium is a rare earth metal that is very rare in nature, with 99% of the world’s production taking place in Inner Mongolia. The discovery of terbium in an exoplanet’s atmosphere is surprising and could help determine the age and formation of exoplanets.