Scientists have detected barium in the upper atmosphere of two giant exoplanets for the first time.
What is Barium?
It is two and a half times heavier than iron and is the heaviest-ever detected element. Barium salts are used in fireworks to generate green lights.
Where was this detected?
WASP-76b (640 light-years away from the Earth )and WASP-121b (900 light-years away) —orbit their host stars WASP 76 and WASP 121.
This discovery of barium is surprising because heavy elements like barium are expected to quickly fall into the lower layers of the atmosphere, given these exoplanets have high gravity.
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