Researchers detect powerful magnetic field on distant exoplanet

An international team of researchers has found strong evidence of a powerful magnetic field around a distant exoplanet, Israel's Tel Aviv University said Thursday in a statement.

The study, published in the journal Science, provides the strongest evidence yet that an exoplanet's magnetic field can directly influence its host star.

The researchers focused on GJ 436 b, a Neptune-sized exoplanet orbiting very close to its host star. After analyzing 16 years of observations, they detected periodic variations in the star's ultraviolet emission that matched the planet's orbit, indicating an interaction between the planet's magnetic field and the star.

Using computer models, the researchers estimated that the planet's magnetic field could be between 2.3 and 27 times stronger than Jupiter's, the strongest planetary magnetic field in the solar system.

The researchers said the findings mark a breakthrough because magnetic fields around exoplanets have been extremely difficult to detect.

They said the discovery could provide a new way to study distant worlds and improve scientists' understanding of the role magnetic fields may play in protecting planetary atmospheres and supporting conditions favorable for life.