Dwarf Planets Eris and Makemake May Harbor Subsurface Oceans

Recent findings suggest the presence of warm geochemical activity beneath their icy crusts, challenging previous notions of these distant worlds.

James Webb Space Telescope observations reveal young methane deposits on Eris and Makemake, indicating internal heating.
The discovery of hydrothermal or metamorphic processes suggests the potential for subsurface oceans on these dwarf planets.
The moderate D/H ratio in methane ice points to geochemical origins, suggesting a warmer interior than previously thought.
Evidence of recent resurfacing and internal dynamism on Eris and Makemake redefines our understanding of Kuiper Belt objects.
These findings open new avenues for research on planetary habitability and the possibility of life in the outer Solar System.