Articles tagged with Exoplanetary Science
A new study suggests that Enceladus's icy vents may concentrate organic molecules and molecular biosignatures into individual grains, making them easier to detect. Researchers propose that the process could aid in the search for life on the moon.
Researchers from Trinity College Dublin developed a powerful method to track weather patterns on distant worlds, revealing two dominant processes shaping atmospheric changes. The study used PCA to analyze data from NASA's JWST, identifying minute changes in brightness as the object rotated.
The Europlanet Science Congress 2026 will cover various topics in planetary research, including the Solar System, exoplanets, and artificial intelligence. The conference will feature over 125 scientific sessions and keynote talks, with around 1200 planetary scientists attending from 40 countries.
Astronomers have detected an atmosphere on a rocky planet, LHS 1140 b, in the habitable zone of its host star, which is consistent with conditions for liquid water and potentially life. The discovery was made using the WINERED spectrograph on the Magellan Clay telescope and reveals helium escaping from the upper atmosphere.
A new study by University of Florida Assistant Professor Jason Dittmann reveals that the rocky exoplanet LHS 1140b may have its own atmosphere. The planet's age and atmospheric composition suggest a steady-state atmosphere with water, which could persist over time.
Astronomers have discovered a third planet, Beta Pictoris d, in the system, which is 100 times fainter than Beta Pictoris b and 2.4 times more massive than Jupiter. The planet's wide orbit and extreme faintness make its detection a significant achievement.
A team of researchers, including Michael Fausnaugh from Texas Tech University, have identified a new planet using the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission. The planet, Gaia23bra b, is a super Jupiter orbiting far from its host star and offers insight into the detection methods used in astronomy.
The James Webb Space Telescope has captured the first direct evidence of salt clouds in a cold object's atmosphere, surrounding the 'Pink Planet' GJ504b. The discovery provides insights into the composition and formation of this ancient, rosy-hazed world, which is too faint for ground-based telescopes.
Astronomers at Caltech IPAC have settled on a leading hypothesis for the unusual hot spot on CoRoT-2 b, a hot Jupiter that defies previous assumptions about its behavior. The planet's slow rotation speed, which is equivalent to about three Earth days per orbit, suggests it is not tidally locked to its host star.
New study by University of Southampton confirms the universe's expansion is still accelerating as previously found, debunking 2025 claims that the cosmos was slowing. The team re-evaluated data using Type Ia supernovae to calculate vast cosmic distances and found no error in their methods.
Researchers used the James Webb Space Telescope to measure how star light absorption changes as WASP-121 b rotates, probing its atmosphere longitude by longitude. The data indicate that hot winds heat the evening terminator region, causing it to absorb more stellar radiation and expand.
Researchers measured wind speeds on seven hot, Jupiter-like exoplanets and found that magnetic fields govern the winds. The team's findings provide the strongest evidence yet of magnetism on planets outside our Solar System.
Astronomers have developed a novel method to estimate the masses of newborn planets using the properties of dust rings around stars. By analyzing the width, brightness peak location, and dust content of these ring structures, researchers can reconstruct planet masses even when those planets are too faint or embedded to observe directly.
Researchers have discovered daily cloud cycles on WASP-94A b, a Hot Jupiter planet, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. The findings reveal different weather patterns on the morning and evening sides of the planet, with magnesium silicate clouds forming in the mornings and clearing up by nightfall. This breakthrough provide...
Researchers use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope to analyze light passing through a distant, temperate gas giant planet's atmosphere, revealing methane and potentially other gases. The study provides insights into planetary formation and evolution, and could improve understanding of Earth's atmosphere.
Researchers studied the unique planet using James Webb Space Telescope data, finding an atmosphere similar to Jupiter's, mostly composed of hydrogen and helium. The exoplanet orbits its star at just six Earth days, moving four times faster than Mercury around our sun.
Scientists have measured the atmosphere of the mini-Neptune, revealing a heavy composition with water vapor, carbon dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The findings suggest that both planets formed far from their host star, then were drawn inward through a gradual process, preserving their atmospheres.
A team of astronomers using a new method to find planets has detected 27 potential circumbinary planet candidates in double star systems. The findings, published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, broaden our understanding of planet formation and evolution in complex environments.
Researchers at the University of Arizona used drones equipped with ground-penetrating radar to map the thickness of rocky debris covering glaciers on Earth. The technology could help future astronauts locate accessible water locked in buried ice on Mars.
Researchers used machine learning algorithms to analyze satellite data, combining public and private sources to predict lava flow patterns. The study's findings can aid in early warning systems for volcanic eruptions, providing critical information for safety and analysis.
Researchers studied the TOI-201 system, finding that the planets' orbits are tilted relative to each other, causing them to slowly change orientations. The team used multiple observational techniques to confirm the system's existence and predict future transits.
Researchers propose an agnostic biosignature that detects life on a population level by analyzing patterns of planetary traits and spatial relationships. This method prioritizes reliability over completeness, minimizing false positives even if it misses some life-bearing planets.
An international team maps the climate of rocky exoplanets like TRAPPIST-1b and c for the first time, ruling out dense atmospheres due to extreme temperatures. The study uses James Webb Space Telescope observations to determine surface temperatures on both day and night sides.
The discovery of TOI-5205 b, a Jupiter-sized planet orbiting a four times more massive star than our Sun, reveals its atmosphere has fewer heavy elements than expected. The research suggests that the planet's interior and atmosphere are not mixing, resulting in a carbon-rich, oxygen-poor atmosphere.
The discovery of two planets forming in the disc around young star WISPIT 2 suggests that the system could resemble a young Solar System. The two gas giants, WISPIT 2b and WISPIT 2c, are found in clear gaps within the disc of dust and gas, indicating that more planets may be currently forming.
A new AI pipeline called RAVEN has validated over 100 exoplanets, including 31 newly detected planets, using NASA's TESS data. The study found that around 9-10% of Sun-like stars host a close-in planet, and 'Neptunian desert' planets occur around just 0.08% of Sun-like stars.
Researchers pinpoint 45 rocky worlds with potential to support life, including TRAPPIST-1 d and e, Proxima Centauri b, and Kepler 186f. The study also explores the boundaries of habitability using exoplanets with unusual orbits.
A team of astronomers has detected rare evidence of two planets colliding, which could provide valuable insights into the formation of our solar system. The unlikely event was observed in a distant star, Gaia20ehk, which was found to have massive amounts of rocks and dust passing in front of it, blocking its light.
Researchers using ESA's Cheops satellite find a small rocky planet in LHS 1903 system, which defies conventional understanding of planetary order and formation. The discovery sparks renewed interest in exploring alternative explanations for this unusual system.
Researchers believe a gigantic ring system surrounding a brown dwarf or super-Jupiter could have blocked the star's light, causing an extremely rare fading star phenomenon. The dimming lasted nearly 200 days, making it one of the longest ever observed.
The absence of exoplanets orbiting tight binary stars is attributed to the effects of general relativity, which causes gravitational tugs from the stars to make a planet's orbit precess. This process makes it difficult for close-in planets to survive, with 75% being destroyed due to tidal disruptions or ejection from the system.
West Virginia University scientists create digital twin models using AI technology to monitor astronaut movements and muscle activity, predicting potential health risks. The system can detect subtle early signs of trouble, providing personalized exercise routines and helping astronauts cope with balance issues upon return to Earth.
Astronomers may need to look beyond the traditional habitable zone for liquid water and potentially life-friendly conditions. A new study suggests that tidally locked worlds, even those orbiting closer to cool M- and K-dwarf stars than previously thought, could sustain liquid water on their night side.
Deep magma oceans beneath rocky exoplanets called super-earths could generate powerful magnetic fields to protect against harmful radiation. This suggests that these planets might be more hospitable for life beyond our solar system.
Scientists found that a planet's interior composition, specifically the 'softness' of its vortex base, determines the formation of polar vortices. The study suggests that Saturn may have a harder interior than Jupiter, leading to a single massive polar vortex, while Jupiter's softer interior gives rise to multiple smaller vortices.
Researchers have found a rare snapshot of worlds in the process of transforming into super-Earths and sub-Neptunes, the galaxy's most common planetary types. The discovery provides an unprecedented glimpse into the turbulent lives of young worlds, shedding light on their formation.
A team of researchers has discovered a distinct group of hot Jupiters whose circular orbits contradict the expected timescale for tidal migration. These planets exhibit characteristics consistent with disk migration, such as primordial alignment and planet multiplicity, suggesting they formed smoothly within the protoplanetary disk.
A team of astronomers used NASA's JWST to reveal an alien atmosphere in the ancient, ultra-hot super-Earth TOI-561 b. The planet's thick atmosphere is upending conventional wisdom about ultra-short-period planets, and its composition could be representative of planets that formed when the universe was relatively young.
Astronomers at Northwestern University have directly imaged a Tatooine-like exoplanet orbiting two suns, revealing unique insights into how planets form around multiple stars. The discovery provides an unprecedented look at the complex dynamics of binary systems and offers new opportunities to test theories of planet formation.
Researchers detect strong evidence for an atmosphere on ultra-hot super-Earth TOI-561 b, challenging the idea that small planets can't sustain atmospheres. The planet's unusually low density is explained by a thick volatile-rich atmosphere that circulates heat and cools the nightside.
Scientists at UNIGE have developed a high-precision spectrograph called RISTRETTO to analyze light from the exoplanet Proxima b. The instrument can detect signs of oxygen or water in its atmosphere, similar to Earth.
A collaboration of bacteria, including Sporosarcina pasteurii and Chroococcidiopsis, produces natural cement-like materials that can turn Martian regolith into solid concrete. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize construction on Mars and provide benefits for habitat integrity and life-support systems.
Astronomers from UNIGE and others observe large streams of helium gas escaping from WASP-107b, a super-puff exoplanet with extremely low density. This is the first time helium has been detected on an exoplanet using JWST, revealing valuable clues for understanding atmospheric escape.
Astronomers have discovered a stellar companion near a star with hot dust, offering a complex laboratory to understand the origin and composition of this phenomenon. This breakthrough builds on decades of technological leadership in interferometry, enabling scientists to study the interaction between the companion and the dust.
Cornell University researchers have created a color-coded key of diverse microorganisms that live in Earth's clouds. This new signature allows astronomers to look for signs of life on planets with dense or cloudy atmospheres, including exoplanets with 100% cloud cover.
Experimental tests demonstrate that interactions between magma oceans and primitive atmospheres during early years can produce significant amounts of water. This process has major implications for the physical and chemical properties of planets' interiors, with potential effects on core development and atmospheric composition.
A team led by UMD astronomers has created the first three-dimensional temperature map of a planet orbiting another star, revealing distinct temperature zones and water vapor breakdown. The new technique lays the groundwork for future explorations of faraway planets.
Researchers have created the first 3D map of a planet orbiting another star, highlighting distinct temperature zones on WASP-18b. The technique allows for atmospheric variations to be mapped, providing insights into exoplanet temperatures and composition.
The Programmable Liquid-crystal Active Coronagraphic Imager for the DAG telescope (PLACID) will improve detection and direct imaging of exoplanets using liquid crystals. It can adapt to complex mask configurations, enabling direct imaging of circumbinary planets and proto-planetary discs.
Astronomers from Trinity College Dublin used the James Webb Space Telescope to study the weather of a nearby rogue planet, SIMP-0136. They found strong auroral activity similar to Earth's Northern Lights and detected minute changes in temperature, cloud cover, and chemistry.
Astronomers have discovered a frozen, water-rich planetary fragment being consumed by a white dwarf star outside our Solar System. The object is thought to be an icy planetesimal, possibly similar to Halley's Comet or Pluto, and has a high nitrogen abundance, making it a rare finding in the field.
New research suggests that technological alien life may be rare on planets without plate tectonics and too little carbon dioxide. The study found that a planet with 10% carbon dioxide could maintain a biosphere for up to 4.2 billion years, while one with 1% carbon dioxide would last only 3.1 billion years.
The ATREIDES program observes and analyzes exo-Neptune systems, revealing a surprisingly inclined orbital architecture that offers new insights into chaotic planetary history. The study of TOI-421 highlights the role of high-eccentricity migration in shaping planetary orbits.
The European Space Agency's Plato spacecraft has safely arrived at ESTEC in the Netherlands, where engineers will complete its assembly and conduct critical tests before its launch. The telescope is equipped with 26 ultrasensitive cameras designed to capture the dimming effect of exoplanets passing in front of their host stars.
A recent study using transits and light curves revealed that TOI-3884 is a highly tilted planetary system with a misaligned stellar spin axis and planet's orbital axis. The star's rotation period was also measured, providing insight into the system's unique geometry.
A new study has revealed chemical signatures of ancient Martian microbial life in the Bright Angel formation, a region of Jezero Crater known for its fine-grained mudstones rich in oxidized iron and organic carbon. The findings suggest that early microorganisms may have played a role in shaping these rocks through redox reactions.
Three planetary scientists have been awarded Europlanet Career Medals for their contributions to planetary science. Dr Tim Lichtenberg received the Early-Career Medal for his work on planetary formation and exoplanet evolution, while Dr Benoit Carry won the Mid-Career Medal for his research on asteroid structures and planetary defence.
Astronomers have detected a growing planet outside our solar system in a cleared gap of a multi-ringed disk of dust and gas. The discovery provides the first direct evidence that protoplanets can create these gaps, resolving a long-standing debate in the scientific community.
Astrobiologists have developed a new model to characterize water-rich sub-Neptunes, which are planets with sizes and masses between those of Earth and Neptune. This model accounts for the complex behavior of supercritical water and its implications for planetary formation and potential habitability.
Researchers propose that Jupiter-sized exoplanets may accumulate and collapse into detectable black holes due to dark matter. This process could potentially generate multiple black holes in a single exoplanet's lifetime, making exoplanet surveys a promising method for hunting superheavy dark matter particles.