What is an exoplanet? An astrophysicist explains why they are vital for finding alien life

Phys.org
February 28, 2026
Scientists might have just found Earth's icy, distant cousin a few hundred million light-years away. HD 137010 b is one of thousands of exoplanets, or planets that orbit other stars, and is potentially the first Earth-like one that also orbits a sun-like star. Initially observed in 2017 with data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its Kepler Space Telescope, further details about HD 137010b came out this year.
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Originally published on Phys.org on 2/28/2026