Astronomers discover an Earth-sized “pi planet” with a 3.14-day orbit
The rocky world, with its baking-hot surface, is likely not habitable.
Sept. 21, 2020 • ~7 min
Lava oceans may not explain the brightness of some hot super-Earths
By making their own lava and cooled glass, scientists find these materials likely aren’t responsible for the unexpected glow of some exoplanets.
Aug. 4, 2020 • ~8 min
Study: A plunge in incoming sunlight may have triggered “Snowball Earths”
Findings also suggest exoplanets lying within habitable zones may be susceptible to ice ages.
July 29, 2020 • ~8 min
TESS mission discovers massive ice giant
Neptune-sized planet may be remnant core of a much larger planet.
July 1, 2020 • ~5 min
Citizen scientists spot closest young brown dwarf disk yet
Discovery made through the Disk Detective project could help the search for new planets.
June 2, 2020 • ~8 min
Study: Life might survive, and thrive, in a hydrogen world
When searching for extraterrestrial life, astronomers may want to look at planets with hydrogen-rich atmospheres.
May 4, 2020 • ~9 min
Computing and the search for new planets
MIT planetary scientists partner with computer scientists to find exoplanets.
Sept. 23, 2019 • ~8 min
TESS discovers its first Earth-sized planet
Orbiting a nearby star, the new planet is the smallest identified so far by the TESS mission.
April 16, 2019 • ~6 min
Robert Simcoe named director of MIT Kavli Institute
An expert in instrumentation and early universe observations, Simcoe succeeds Jacqueline Hewitt as head of MIT’s Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.
Jan. 10, 2019 • ~3 min
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