Exoplanets : Science World Report

Mar 14, 2015 07:59 AM EDT

Habitable Exoplanets May Have Chaotic Climate Change Impacts Caused by Sister Planets

Scientists have described possible planetary systems where a gravitational nudge from one planet with just the right orbital configuration could have a devastating impact on the orbit and climate of another, possibly habitable world.

Mar 06, 2015 12:03 PM EST

Possible 'Habitable' Planet GJ 581d Actually Exists

A certain habitable planet may actually exist, despite prior claims. Scientists have found that a planet named GJ 581d, which was first identified in 2009 orbiting the star Gliese 581, isn't a glitch in data.

Mar 05, 2015 07:38 AM EST

Astronomers Discover Massive Planet that was Reared by Four Parent Stars

Most planets have just one or two stars to contend with. Now, though, astronomers have discovered a planet that had four parent stars. Scientists have recently uncovered two exoplanets, one which has three parent stars and another which has four.

Mar 04, 2015 06:31 AM EST

New Technique Reveals a Planet with Liquid Rock in Its Atmosphere

Scientists may have gotten a better glimpse of weather on other planets. They've created a new technique that analyzes data from NASA's Kepler space observatory to determine the types of clouds on planets that orbit other stars.

Feb 19, 2015 08:12 AM EST

Disintegrating Exoplanet with a Surface That's Being Vaporized May Reveal How Our Solar System Formed

A certain rocky exoplanet could tell researchers how our solar system was formed. Scientists have made some new observations of a small rocky world that may increase our understanding of how planets were first created.

Feb 13, 2015 08:35 AM EST

This Rare, Massive Planet is Six Times the Mass of Jupiter and Has Extreme Seasons

Astronomers have discovered a rare planet with some extreme seasons. Called Kepler-432b, the planet is one of the most dense and massive planets to be discovered thus far, and has temperatures that range from 500 degrees Celsius to a scorching 1,000 degrees.

Feb 10, 2015 09:27 AM EST

Twinkle Satellite Sheds Light on the Evolution of Distant Exoplanet Atmospheres

A team of researchers and engineers have announced plans for a small satellite, named "Twinkle," that will give radical new insights into the chemistry, formation and evolution of planets orbiting stars.

Feb 05, 2015 07:00 AM EST

Hundreds of Billions of Earth-like Planets May Support Life in Our Galaxy

Scientists have calculated that there may be hundreds of billions of Earth-like planets in our galaxy which could support life.

Jan 29, 2015 08:50 AM EST

Mini-Neptunes Near M Dwarf Stars May Transform into Rocky Habitable Worlds

Two phenomena that are known to actually inhibit the habitability of planets may actually help chances for life. Scientists have found that tidal forces and vigorous stellar activity may promote life on certain planets orbiting low-mass stars.

Jan 28, 2015 06:53 AM EST

Ancient Star System with Earth-like Planets Spotted by NASA's Kepler

Astronomers have spotted an ancient, sun-like star with orbiting planets in a system that dates back to the dawn of the galaxy. The system is the oldest to be discovered by far with Earth-sized planets, and proves that such planets formed throughout the history of the universe.

Jan 18, 2015 03:28 PM EST

Kepler Discovers Three Earth-like Planets Orbiting a Nearby Red Dwarf Star

Scientists have discovered a star with three Earth-sized planets. Not only that, but one of the planets may just have temperatures that are moderate enough for liquid water, and possibly life, to exist.

Jan 16, 2015 07:44 AM EST

Exoplanets May be More Hospitable to Life with Day-Night Cycle

The search for life on other planets continues. Now, scientists have discovered that exoplanets may be more likely to be hospitable to life and have liquid water than we thought.