From Fire to Fog: lava pools and clouds in space

In recent years a large number of exoplanets have been found that orbit so close to their star that their surfaces melt, producing lava pools. I'll discuss the surprising nature of these planets and the efforts to understand how we can use lava worlds to learn about how planets form and evolve.

When viewed under ultraviolet light, Venus, the second brightest object in the night sky, is revealed to be covered in dark, splotchy patches. Many possible causes of the dark patches have been proposed - from unusual chemicals, to materials from meteorites, to microscopic life - but almost 100 years after the absorption was first observed, the cause remains unknown. Using a combination of laboratory experiments and computer modelling to explore possible causes, we're one step closer to solving the mystery.