Daily English Article — May 23, 2026

Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope have successfully mapped the weather patterns on WASP-94A b, a hot gas giant located roughly 690 light-years from Earth. Led by astrophysicist Sagnick Mukherjee of Johns Hopkins University, the team published their findings in the journal Science. The planet orbits one star in a binary system and is tidally locked, meaning the same side always faces its star, creating permanent day and night hemispheres with dramatic temperature differences between them.

WASP-94A b is an unusual planet: its mass is slightly less than half of Jupiter's, yet its diameter is over 70 percent wider, making it extremely low in density. This bloated structure causes its atmosphere to extend far into space, making it an ideal candidate for atmospheric study. Researchers had long wondered whether the atmospheres of such tidally locked gas giants are static or dynamic, and whether they contain winds, clouds, or other active weather phenomena worth investigating.

Traditionally, scientists study exoplanet atmospheres using transmission spectroscopy, which analyzes starlight filtered through a planet's atmosphere as it passes in front of its star. However, this method averages the light across the planet's entire silhouette, treating the atmosphere as a single uniform gas. For tidally locked planets, this approach is a significant oversimplification, since massive temperature differences between the day and night sides produce very different atmospheric conditions on each limb of the planet.

To overcome this limitation, Mukherjee's team employed a technique called limb-resolved spectroscopy, using JWST's Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph. Because the leading edge of the planet—the morning limb—blocks starlight slightly before the trailing evening limb during a transit, scientists could isolate separate chemical signals from each side. This revealed that the morning limb contains thick clouds of silicate particles, while the evening limb is relatively clear, confirming predictions from atmospheric circulation models about equatorial super-rotation.

This discovery has significant implications for how scientists interpret exoplanet chemistry. Because previous transmission spectroscopy averaged signals from both limbs, chemical compositions of many exoplanets may have been incorrectly estimated. The morning clouds on WASP-94A b appear to form as cooler nightside air moves into the hot dayside and condenses, while the evening limb shows clear skies where heated gases flow back into the night. This asymmetry reshapes our understanding of atmospheric dynamics on tidally locked worlds throughout the galaxy.

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has confirmed that Rockstar Games' 'Grand Theft Auto 6' remains on schedule for its November 19 release date, but the game's price has still not been publicly announced. Speaking to Variety during an interview on Thursday, Zelnick firmly dismissed the idea that any pricing announcement would accompany the company's quarterly earnings release, stating that marketing announcements are never made alongside analyst calls. The game is widely anticipated to be one of the best-selling video games in history.

Although no price has been revealed, Zelnick confirmed that Rockstar Games plans to begin marketing 'GTA 6' during the summer. However, he clarified that this does not mean promotional activity is imminent, since summer officially begins at the end of June. He noted that over the next few weeks, it is unlikely that marketing will commence, but once summer arrives, Rockstar is expected to launch its promotional campaign in earnest. Fans have been eagerly awaiting further details about the game for months.

In recent weeks, numerous rumors have circulated online about 'GTA 6,' including speculation about pre-orders opening, pricing details, and the possibility of another delay. Zelnick addressed these rumors by reiterating the November 19 launch date, describing the reconfirmation itself as a positive signal for consumers and investors alike. He emphasized that Take-Two has consistently been clear about its release timeline, suggesting that the steady flow of unverified rumors should not be taken as reliable indicators of the company's actual plans.

Despite not having disclosed a public price for 'GTA 6,' Take-Two was able to provide full-year financial guidance projecting revenues between 8 billion and 8.2 billion dollars, representing a roughly 20 percent increase over the previous year. Zelnick explained that internal financial models always incorporate assumptions about pricing, release schedules, and unit sales, even when those details have not been made public. He cautioned, however, that such assumptions are not fixed and could change if the title is delayed, pricing shifts, or sales expectations are revised.

Take-Two's quarterly earnings results showed net bookings of 1.58 billion dollars, flat compared to the same period last year, with GAAP net revenue reaching 1.68 billion dollars and a GAAP loss per share of 32 cents. Wall Street had forecast a loss of 52 cents per share on revenue of 1.55 billion dollars, meaning the company outperformed analyst expectations. In addition to 'GTA 6,' Take-Two is preparing for the September launch of NBA 2K27, published by its 2K label, giving the company two major commercial releases to anchor its upcoming fiscal year.