Exoplanets

Latest about Exoplanets

Illustration of the exoplanet 2M1510 (AB) b’s unusual orbit around its host brown dwarf stars. The newly discovered planet has a polar orbit, which is perpendicular to the plane in which the two stars are travelling.

Scientists discover bizarre double-star system with exoplanet on a sideways orbit (video)

By Robert Lea published

Astronomers have discovered the weirdest planetary system ever seen, consisting of a planet rolling around rare binary "failed star" brown dwarfs at a 90-degree tilted angle!

Exoplanets
An Earth-like world with a sun-like star in the background is seen in this illustration.

How artificial intelligence is helping scientists hunt for alien Earths

By Keith Cooper published

An AI algorithm designed to look for planetary systems that could host Earth-like, habitable zone planets, has found 44 candidates.

Exoplanets
An illustration of a red world with white streaks.

Nearby exoplanet could offer clues about atmospheres around hot, rocky alien worlds

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

A nearby Earth-sized planet beyond our solar system could soon add to the diversity of known terrestrial worlds with their own "air."

Exoplanets
An artist's illustration of the hot Jupiter exoplanet CoRoT 2b, which has a strange westward-blowing hotspot in its atmosphere, scientists say.

How science gets tested on alien worlds: 'We quickly realize how much there is yet to discover'

By Victoria Corless published

New insights into the chemistry of exoplanet atmospheres indicates planet-wide rainfall might take place following hydrogen atmosphere and water mixing.

Exoplanets

What's the difference between a young exoplanet and an old one?

By Victoria Corless published

Understanding exoplanet evolution could help solve the mystery of the 'hot Neptune desert.'

Exoplanets

This newly found super-Earth might have blown off its own atmosphere

By Keith Cooper published

A newly found super-Earth could help provide answers as to why there are hardly any planets twice the diameter of Earth.

Exoplanets

2 newly found exoplanets reignite an outstanding question about our solar system

By Samantha Mathewson published

Astronomers have discovered two new exoplanets that are similar to other worlds found in the Milky Way, but unlike any in our own solar system.

Exoplanets
Artist's illustration of the view from the seas of a potentially habitable "Hycean" exoplanet.

James Webb Space Telescope could find signs of life on alien 'hycean' ocean worlds

By Keith Cooper published

JWST could potentially detect the signature of methyl halide compounds, produced by microbial life in Earth's ocean, on hypothetical hycean exoplanets.

Exoplanets
An illustration of an infant planet surrounded by gas and dust in which an exomoon is taking shape

Exoplanet 'baby pictures' reveal exomoons possibly taking shape around infant worlds

By Robert Lea published

Astronomers have examined infant planets orbiting a star 370 light-years away, seeing the exomoon forming disks of gas and dust around them in unprecedented detail.

Exoplanets
An illustration of a gas giant planet next to a much smaller blue planet

Large alien planets may be born in chaos, NASA's retired exoplanet-hunter finds

By Robert Lea published

Using the now-retired Kepler space telescope, astronomers have discovered that larger planets grow up in more turbulent homes than smaller worlds.

Exoplanets
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