How distant planets with 15,000mph winds could change hunt for life in space

An illustration of a planet with a strong magnetic field outside of the solar system. Intense heat on the star-facing side and cold temperatures on the opposite side drive fast winds across the world (Picture: ESO/M. Kornmesser, L. Calçada/Cover Media)

Astronomers have found the strongest evidence yet that planets beyond our solar system possess magnetic fields, solving an important question in the study of distant worlds.

Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (ESO’s VLT) and the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, researchers measured wind speeds on seven extremely hot, Jupiter-like exoplanets.

The findings suggest the winds are likely shaped by planetary magnetic fields, providing what scientists describe as the first robust evidence of magnetism on planets outside the solar ...