The dark and featureless surface of rocky exoplanet LHS 3844 b from JWST mid-infrared spectroscopy
Laura Schaefer
Nature Astronomy, Published online: 04 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02860-3 The JWST thermal emission spectrum of the rocky exoplanet LHS 3844 b points to a dark, basalt-like surface shaped by space weathering. The data provide tight limits on CO2 and SO2, ruling out a substantial atmosphere and recent widespread volcanism.