You happen upon a planet that has fallen prey to the Kesseler Effect. Penetrative scans show no signs of surface life, but atmospheric compositions points to current industrial activity on the level of the early human industrial revolution. Contour scans of the surface show extreme pitting and crater presence.

A planet that is tidally locked to a red dwarf star has developed life. The goldilocks-like zone on the equator of the world gives way to extremophile style life, which peters out as you get further from the ring. Advanced analysis shows unexpected thermal/energy signatures in both the hot and cold extreme zones, but your craft is badly damaged and must land. You make it to the liveable meridian ring, but know that your only hope for being reunited with your species lies in the extreme zones, at those energy sources.