Ep 4. Extreme Planets

In the fourth episode of How the Universe Works season 1, titled "Extreme Planets", viewers are taken on a journey through the most extreme planets discovered in the universe. The episode explores planets that are unlike anything in our solar system and highlights the latest research on these distant worlds.

The episode delves into the idea that other planets in the universe could be drastically different from Earth and prompts viewers to consider what conditions could exist on other worlds. Through stunning visualizations and expert commentary, we learn about planets that are too hot for life as we know it, planets with a constant ring of fire, and planets with extreme gravitational forces.

One of the featured planets in the episode is HD 189733b, a gas giant with blue-colored skies that whip around at speeds of up to six thousand miles per hour. The planet's incredibly high temperature means that it rains glass, creating a storm of glass shards that move at high speeds across the planet. Experts believe that there could be many planets like HD 189733b, and if so, they would be inhospitable to life.

Another extreme planet explored in the episode is Gliese 436 b, a Neptune-sized planet that has a strange, gaseous atmosphere. The planet is so hot that it should not be able to hold onto the hydrogen gas in its atmosphere, yet it somehow defies this and keeps it in. Experts are fascinated by this anomaly and are working to understand how it happens.

Viewers also learn about planets known as "super-Earths", which are rocky planets that are much larger than our planet. One such planet is 55 Cancri e, a planet with a density so high that it is believed to have a diamond core. The planet is so close to its host star that it completes an orbit in just 18 hours, and as a result, temperatures on the planet's surface reach a scorching 3,900 degrees Fahrenheit.

The episode also explores the idea of exoplanets - planets that exist outside of our solar system. Experts believe that there might be trillions of exoplanets in the universe, and the episode highlights some of the latest discoveries in exoplanet research. This includes the discovery of Proxima b, an exoplanet that orbits Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to our sun. Proxima b is located in the habitable zone of its star, which means that it could potentially have conditions suitable for life.

Overall, "Extreme Planets" is a mesmerizing episode that takes viewers on a trip through the most fascinating and extreme planets in the universe. From planets that rain glass to those with diamond cores, viewers are sure to be amazed and inspired by the incredible variety of worlds that exist beyond our solar system.