Earth exceeds seven planetary boundaries as James Webb finds lava super-Earth

A report by more than 60 scientists from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research warns that Earth has surpassed seven of the nine planetary boundaries considered safe for maintaining life. The exceeded limits include climate, biodiversity, land use, freshwater, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, ocean chemistry, and the presence of synthetic chemicals such as plastics and pesticides. Only the ozone layer and atmospheric particle levels remain within safe ranges, though particle concentrations in South Asia are a regional concern. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels reached approximately 426 parts per million in 2025.

In astronomical news, the James Webb Space Telescope has identified HD 3167 b, a rocky super-Earth located 154 light-years from Earth. Despite being classified as a lava world that orbits its star in just one day, the planet maintains an atmosphere, which challenges existing scientific models regarding how close planets can be to their stars while retaining gas envelopes.