Astronomers found hot steam around a massive, scorching star where it’s way too hot for water molecules to even exist.
March 25, 2026
Original Paper
High-resolution near-IR spectroscopy of the B[e] supergiant LHA 115-S 18: discovery of hot water vapor emission
arXiv · 2603.22334
The Takeaway
Standard models suggest the intense radiation from massive stars should shred molecules like water. Finding a ring of 'hot water' suggests these stars have surprisingly cool, dense shelters hidden within their chaotic outer disks.
From the abstract
The post-main-sequence evolution of massive stars involves phases of intense, often eruptive mass loss, including the B[e] supergiant phase. These hot stars are surrounded by cool, dense circumstellar disks that host complex chemistry, producing both molecules and dust. Understanding the mass-loss history of B[e] supergiants is essential for constraining stellar evolution models, particularly regarding their final stages. Near-infrared CO band emission serves as a key tracer of disk dynamics, ty