Exoplanets like Earth have been discovered but not all Earth-like planets are equal when it comes to alien life.

When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. An illustration of confirmed dwarf planets and their moons. From left to right: Pluto (with ...

Some of the most promising places to look for extraterrestrials have remained, so far, mostly hidden from astronomers. Now a game-changing instrument called NIRPS (Near-Infrared Planet Searcher) is ...

For decades, the number of planets seemed settled and unquestioned. Then definitions changed, discoveries multiplied, and certainty disappeared. The issue was never distance or size alone, but ...