Exoplanet news, features and articles
-
Mysterious signals from 'hell planet' 40 light-years from Earth could finally be solved by James Webb Space TelescopeThe 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.
By Paul Sutter Published
-
James Webb telescope sees potential signs of alien life in the atmosphere of a distant 'Goldilocks' water worldNASA'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.
By Harry Baker Published
-
James Webb telescope could detect life on Earth from across the galaxy, new study suggestsResearchers 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.
By Harry Baker Published
-
Bizarre 'failed star' the size of Jupiter is 2,000 degrees hotter than the sunThis Jupiter-size object is 80 times denser than a planet and hotter than the sun.
By Joanna Thompson Published
-
A new, Jupiter-size planet is on the verge of being born, and astronomers have incredible images of itA gorgeous new image of a star system 5,000 light-years from Earth could finally explain how Jupiter-size planets are born from chaotic fields of gas.
By Brandon Specktor Published
-
1st known 'Trojan' planets discovered locked in the exact same orbit around a starA distant Jupiter-size planet could have the shattered remains of a smaller sibling in its tow.
By Ben Turner Published
-
Star system with galaxy-like 'arms' may be holding a secret planetA distant star system has Milky Way-like spiral arms orbiting it. New research suggests a giant planet may be to blame.
By Joanna Thompson Published
-
Mirror-like exoplanet that 'shouldn't exist' is the shiniest world ever discoveredA distant planet named LTT9779 b reflects 80% of its star's light, making the strange world with metal clouds the biggest known "mirror" in the universe.
By Harry Baker Published
-
Mysterious 'zombie planet' Halla seems to have survived the explosive death of its star. How?The Jupiter-sized exoplanet Halla has somehow survived the death of its star, and astronomers aren't sure how.
By Ben Turner Published
