Exoplanet news, features and articles
Latest about Exoplanets

6 alien worlds have been 'waltzing' in perfect rhythm for 4 billion years
By Robert Lea published
Six exoplanets with sizes between Earth and Neptune have been in rhythm with each other since they were born around the same star 4 billion years ago, new research suggests.

Scientists may finally understand why large alien planets keep turning into 'super-Earths'
By Sharmila Kuthunur published
New research finds that certain large exoplanets are shrinking due to internal processes, creating an abundance of rocky 'super-Earths'.

James Webb telescope detects 'fluffy' alien planet that rains sand
By Conor Feehly published
Clouds of silicate sand exist high in exoplanet WASP-107b's atmosphere, new James Webb Space Telescope observations reveal.

The oldest continents in the Milky Way may be 5 billion years older than Earth's
By Briley Lewis published
Several exoplanets at the edge of our galaxy could have formed continents — and advanced life — 5 billion years earlier than Earth, new research suggests.

James Webb telescope detects alien planet with clouds made of quartz
By Joanna Thompson published
The exoplanet WASP-17b's atmosphere is full of quartz clouds, according to a new James Webb Space Telescope observations.

Mysterious signals from 'hell planet' 40 light-years from Earth could finally be solved by James Webb Space Telescope
By Paul Sutter published
The hellish super-Earth '55 Cancri e' may be constantly losing and re-growing its atmosphere, a new study of the planet's strange transit signals suggests.

James Webb telescope sees potential signs of alien life in the atmosphere of a distant 'Goldilocks' water world
By Harry Baker published
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected potential traces of dimethyl sulfide, a chemical only known to be created by phytoplankton on Earth, in the atmosphere of an exoplanet believed to have its own liquid ocean.

James Webb telescope could detect life on Earth from across the galaxy, new study suggests
By Harry Baker published
Researchers have shown that if the James Webb Space Telescope was pointed at Earth from a distant star, it could detect the signatures of intelligent life in our planet's atmosphere.
Sign up for the Live Science daily newsletter now
Get the world’s most fascinating discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.