Exoplanet news, features and articles
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See a young star potentially giving birth to a giant planet in new image from Very Large TelescopeNew images of a young star, 2MASSJ1612, could have captured the birth of a giant gas planet larger than Jupiter.
By Patrick Pester Published
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James Webb telescope spots 'groundbreaking' molecule in scorching clouds of giant 'hell planet'A pair of new studies has revealed that the hellish skies of exoplanet WASP-121b contain silicon monoxide gas, which has never been found in any planetary atmosphere to date.
By Harry Baker Published
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Giant planet discovered around tiny star challenges our best theoriesScientists have discovered a giant planet called TOI-6894b, orbiting a star that should be far too small to have formed it. The discovery could further challenge theories of planet formation.
By Skyler Ware Published
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James Webb telescope discovers frozen water around alien starThe discovery of water ice around a distant star is allowing scientists to study how the key ingredient for life is delivered to young planets beyond our solar system.
By Sharmila Kuthunur Published
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Astronomers discover doomed planet shedding a Mount Everest's worth of material every orbit, leaving behind a comet-like tailAstronomers discovered a planet that orbits its star so closely that its surface is being scorched into magma and vaporizing into space.
By Victoria Corless Published
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Scientists reveal 'most promising yet' signs of alien life on planet k2-18bScientists have discovered evidence of large quantities of biosignature chemicals — only known to be made by life on Earth — on an exoplanet more than 100 light-years away. It could be the most promising sign yet of alien life.
By Jess Thomson Published
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James Webb telescope could find signs of life on alien 'hycean' ocean worldsIf such worlds exist, they could be among the most common life-bearing planets in the galaxy.
By Paul Sutter Published
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'Extremely Large Telescope' being built in Chile could detect signs of alien life in a single nightThe Extremely Large Telescope will revolutionize our view of the cosmos when it sees first light in Chile in 2028. In fact, it could detect hints of alien life around our closest neighboring star system in its first night of operations, new simulations suggest.
By Brian Koberlein Published
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4 tiny, Earth-like planets found circling 2nd-closest star system to us — and could be visited by future human generationsA quartet of small, rocky exoplanets likely circle Barnard's Star, around 6 light-years from Earth, putting them in contention as targets of missions for future human generations.
By Harry Baker Published
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