Today we know of over 4000 exoplanets, or extrasolar planets:  worlds orbiting around stars not our sun.  But in 1992, possibly the first exoplanet ever discovered came in the form that scientists did not expect.  It was a pulsar planet, or a zombie planet, formed from the matter and debris in the aftermath of an exploding star. In the 70s and 80s there had been exoplanets theorized and mathematically calculated by the strange behavior of stars.  But it wasn’t until 1992 that

A newly discovered extra-solar planet located some 11 light-years away may be suitable for life.  It’s called “Ross 128 b” and you may be hearing a lot more of this exoplanet in the months and years to come. First, what is an exoplanet? An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our own solar system.  So far, over 3400 exoplanets have been discovered.  The most recent, Ross 128 b, is very unique and exciting to talk about.  Unlike most exoplanets, Ross 128 b is ab

A newly discovered extra-solar planet located some 11 light-years away may be suitable for life.  It’s called “Ross 128 b” and you may be hearing a lot more of this exoplanet in the months and years to come. First, what is an exoplanet? An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our own solar system.  So far, over 3400 exoplanets have been discovered.  The most recent, Ross 128 b, is very unique and exciting to talk about.  Unlike most exoplanets, Ross 128 b is ab

A newly discovered extra-solar planet located some 11 light-years away may be suitable for life.  It’s called “Ross 128 b” and you may be hearing a lot more of this exoplanet in the months and years to come. First, what is an exoplanet? An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our own solar system.  So far, over 3400 exoplanets have been discovered.  The most recent, Ross 128 b, is very unique and exciting to talk about.  Unlike most exoplanets, Ross 128 b is ab

A newly discovered extra-solar planet located some 11 light-years away may be suitable for life.  It’s called “Ross 128 b” and you may be hearing a lot more of this exoplanet in the months and years to come. First, what is an exoplanet? An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our own solar system.  So far, over 3400 exoplanets have been discovered.  The most recent, Ross 128 b, is very unique and exciting to talk about.  Unlike most exoplanets, Ross 128 b is ab

A newly discovered extra-solar planet located some 11 light-years away may be suitable for life.  It’s called “Ross 128 b” and you may be hearing a lot more of this exoplanet in the months and years to come. First, what is an exoplanet? An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star outside of our own solar system.  So far, over 3400 exoplanets have been discovered.  The most recent, Ross 128 b, is very unique and exciting to talk about.  Unlike most exoplanets, Ross 128 b is ab

Artist’s conception of sulfuric acid rain on Venus. Bringing an umbrella in case of rain may have a different meaning depending upon the planet you’re on.  Our umbrellas protect us from the rain showers here on Earth, but wouldn’t hold up very well if caught in a downpour of sulfuric acid rain on the planet Venus. Atmospheres surrounding different planets produce a wide variety of different weather patterns and atmospheric conditions, most of which are very hostile to human l

Artist’s conception of sulfuric acid rain on Venus. Bringing an umbrella in case of rain may have a different meaning depending upon the planet you’re on.  Our umbrellas protect us from the rain showers here on Earth, but wouldn’t hold up very well if caught in a downpour of sulfuric acid rain on the planet Venus. Atmospheres surrounding different planets produce a wide variety of different weather patterns and atmospheric conditions, most of which are very hostile to human l

Artist’s conception of sulfuric acid rain on Venus. Bringing an umbrella in case of rain may have a different meaning depending upon the planet you’re on.  Our umbrellas protect us from the rain showers here on Earth, but wouldn’t hold up very well if caught in a downpour of sulfuric acid rain on the planet Venus. Atmospheres surrounding different planets produce a wide variety of different weather patterns and atmospheric conditions, most of which are very hostile to human l

Artist’s conception of sulfuric acid rain on Venus. Bringing an umbrella in case of rain may have a different meaning depending upon the planet you’re on.  Our umbrellas protect us from the rain showers here on Earth, but wouldn’t hold up very well if caught in a downpour of sulfuric acid rain on the planet Venus. Atmospheres surrounding different planets produce a wide variety of different weather patterns and atmospheric conditions, most of which are very hostile to human l

Artist’s conception of sulfuric acid rain on Venus. Bringing an umbrella in case of rain may have a different meaning depending upon the planet you’re on.  Our umbrellas protect us from the rain showers here on Earth, but wouldn’t hold up very well if caught in a downpour of sulfuric acid rain on the planet Venus. Atmospheres surrounding different planets produce a wide variety of different weather patterns and atmospheric conditions, most of which are very hostile to human l