An article published in “The Astrophysical Journal Letters” reports a study of the exoplanet KELT-9b with evidence that the conditions are so extreme as to break hydrogen molecules. A team of researchers led by Megan Mansfield of the University of Chicago used NASA’s Spitzer space telescope to find evidence that KELT-9b is an extreme example even in the hot Jupiter planet class due to the conditions existing on its surface. Not accidentally, it’s the hottest known planet and on its dayside hydrogen molecules are broken and then recompose when the atoms move on its nightside.