Newly discovered exoplanet HD 56414 b could help explain the lack of Neptune-like worlds close to their stars

The new exoplanet HD 56414 b is about twice the size and mass of Earth and orbits fairly hot star HD 56414. According to a recent study, it sits right on the edge of the so-called Neptune desert, where only a few gas giants smaller than Jupiter were found.

If it were any closer, the star would blow away its atmosphere, leaving only a small rocky core. That might be the fate of similar exoplanets, and the reason why astronomers couldn't find this type of planet close to their stars.