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Scientists have discovered numerous planets in recent years, revealing that the universe is filled with them. However, most of these worlds are extremely inhospitable. One example is 55 Cancri e, a planet that orbits very close to its star. Its year lasts only 18 hours, and temperatures can reach over 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. These extreme conditions have led scientists to speculate that the planet's interior may be rich in diamonds, with a surface covered by a sea of molten lava.
The prevalence of hot planets located near their stars is primarily due to the limitations of our current technology. It is easier for us to detect planets that are situated close to their stars, resulting in a bias towards discovering "hot Jupiters" - large planets in close proximity to their stellar sources. Nevertheless, 55 Cancri e stands out as one of the first small, rocky planets found orbiting extremely close to its star, making it a significant exoplanet.
Using a new tool called the EXPRES (EXtreme PREcision Spectrometer) at the Lowell Discovery Telescope in Arizona, researchers have been able to make precise measurements to better understand the orbit of 55 Cancri e. They discovered that the planet orbits along the equator of its star, Copernicus, and it likely started farther away before being gradually pulled into its current alignment by the gravitational forces of the star and other objects within the peculiar star system.
Located just 40 light years away from Earth, the system consists of the main-sequence star Copernicus and a red dwarf star, along with at least five exoplanets that exhibit distinct orbits within this cosmic family. The recent study, led by Lily Zhao at the Flatiron Institute's Center for Computational Astrophysics and published in Nature Astronomy, proposes that interactions among these eccentric family members caused Janssen (55 Cancri e) to end up in its present, unbearable orbit.
Despite being pushed and pulled into its current position, Zhao suggests that even in its original orbit, the planet was likely too hot for any known form of life to survive on its surface. It is a remarkable fact, considering the potential abundance of diamonds wasted on such an inhospitable world.

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