Surprising alien worlds with ever-shifting orbits

A newly observed planetary system, dubbed TOI-201 is an outlier. Surprisingly, observations of the system’s three known planets have revealed orbits that change in real time. That is to say, they shift on human timescales.

This strange planet pair shouldn’t exist, but it does

A bizarre planetary pairing 190 light-years away is challenging everything  -  a “lonely” hot Jupiter — typically found without nearby companions — is sharing its system with a smaller mini-Neptune tucked even closer to the star.

Over 10,000 new exoplanet candidates revealed by TESS

NASA has uncovered over 10,000 new candidate planets across our galaxy. Scientists found them through a single survey of data captured by the TESS space telescope.

Researchers reveal a new class of molten planet

New findings reveal that exoplanet L 98-59 d appears to belong to an entirely different class of planet containing heavy sulphur molecules within a permanet magma ocean.

Astronomers think they just witnessed two planets colliding

According to an analysis of the strange changes in a Sun-like star named Gaia-GIC-1, located around 11,600 light-years away, its strange behavior can best be explained by two baby planets colliding in its immediate vicinity.

Discovery of Colossal 'Super-Jupiters' Puzzles Scientists

In a new study, researchers examine three massive gas giants about 130 light-years away, using their atmospheric chemistry to probe how such enormous planets form.

Hidden magma oceans could shield rocky exoplanets from harmful radiation

Deep beneath the surface of super-earths, oceans of molten rock may be doing something extraordinary: powering magnetic fields strong enough to shield entire planets from dangerous cosmic radiation.

Inside-out planetary system upends notions of formation

The planets around LHS 1903 – a cool faint red dwarf star – begin as expected with a rocky planet orbiting close by and then two gas worlds. A surprising 4th planet at the system’s outer edge that is rocky, rather than gaseous.

NASA’s Webb telescope just discovered one of the weirdest planets ever

A newly discovered exoplanet is rewriting the rules of what planets can be. Orbiting a city-sized neutron star, this Jupiter-mass world has a bizarre carbon-rich atmosphere filled with soot clouds and possibly diamonds at its core.

JWST Catches Record-Breaking Planet Sprouting Two Enormous Tails

About 880 light-years from Earth, a hot mess of an exoplanet is slowly spilling its atmosphere into space, creating two enormous tails of helium that stretch more than halfway around its star.

Super-Earth 18 light-years away sparks hope for life in space

Astronomers have discovered another potentially habitable exoplanet orbiting a nearby star. The planet – GJ 251 c – is in the habitable zone of its red dwarf star. 

Young rogue planet displays record-breaking 'growth spurt'

A young rogue planet about 620 light-years away from Earth has experienced a record-breaking "growth spurt," hoovering up some six billion tons of gas and dust each second over a couple of months.

Elusive Baby Planet Caught Carving Out Cosmic Rings

For the first time, astronomers have actually found a baby planet responsible for carving out gaps in the dusty disk surrounding a newborn star.

Earth-Sized Habitable-Zone Exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e

Scientists are in the midst of observing the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1 e with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

How dark matter in exoplanets could create new black holes

Dark matter particles could accumulate inside giant Jupiter-like exoplanets. Dense dark matter particles could eventually collapse to form a black hole inside a planet. The black hole could then ultimately consume the entire planet.