What Titan Teaches Us About Alien Atmospheres: The Detection-vs-Retrieval Challenge
This study uses Titan’s atmosphere as a test case to highlight challenges in analyzing exoplanet atmospheres. The authors show that pre-selecting molecules for retrieval can bias results, even for major gases like methane. They propose an iterative method using scale height to better identify dominant atmospheric components, offering a more reliable approach for future exoplanet studies.
Building Saturn: Simulating Its Formation, Layers, and Helium Rain
The paper models Saturn’s formation from a small rocky core to its present state, including how heavy elements dissolve into its atmosphere and how helium rain shapes its internal structure. Their simulations match Saturn’s observed size, heat, and composition, supporting the idea of a diluted core and confirming Cassini's gravity data. The study also tests alternative formation scenarios, finding consistent results.