New Study reveals super-Earths could be prevalent around stars, according to astronomers
The discovery, made by an international team of researchers using the Korea Microlensing Telescope Network (KMTNet), challenges previous assumptions about the frequency and distribution of these intriguing planets.
The research team, led by astronomers from Ohio State University, Harvard University, and institutions in China and Korea, discovered that super-Earths can orbit as far from their stars as Jupiter orbits the Sun, contradicting the earlier belief that these planets are typically found only in close proximity to their host stars.
By studying light anomalies caused by gravitational microlensing, the team detected one such super-Earth, OGLE-2016-BLG-0007, which has a mass roughly twice that of Earth and an orbit wider than Saturn's.
"This study suggests that for every three stars, there is likely at least one super-Earth with a Jupiter-like orbital period," said Andrew Gould, a professor emeritus of astronomy at Ohio State University and co-author of the study, adding, "We are beginning to realize just how abundant these massive worlds are across the cosmos."
The team's discovery was made possible through the technique of microlensing, a phenomenon in which the light from a distant star is bent and magnified by the gravitational field of an object, such as a planet, passing in front of it.
This effect allows astronomers to detect objects that would otherwise be difficult to observe directly.
"This study was a major step forward," Gould said, adding, "Scientists have long known that smaller planets are more common than large ones, but within this pattern, we've found excesses and deficits, offering new insights into planetary distribution."
Through microlensing, astronomers can detect planets at various distances from their stars, including those with wider orbits.
This breakthrough helps to reveal the prevalence of super-Earths that exist beyond the inner solar system, offering a new perspective on how planets form and evolve in different environments.
One of the most significant findings of the study is its challenge to the prevailing theories of planetary formation.
While it was long believed that gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn formed through the process of runaway gas accretion, the new study suggests that the mechanisms behind the creation of these planets may vary and may include both accretion and gravitational instability.
"We cannot yet distinguish between the two leading theories of planet formation," explained Gould, adding, "While the dominant theory suggests gas-giant formation occurs through runaway gas accretion, other researchers propose a combination of accretion and gravitational instability. Our study adds to the complexity of these models."
The discovery of super-Earths was made possible by the KMTNet, a global network of telescopes strategically located in South Africa, Chile, and Australia.
This network allows scientists to monitor millions of stars for microlensing events, providing valuable data on distant exoplanets.
The technology that powers KMTNet's microlensing observations was designed by Ohio State's Imaging Sciences Laboratory (ISL).
Richard Pogge, a co-author of the study and a professor of astronomy at Ohio State, noted the rarity of finding microlensing events and the significant effort required.
"Finding a microlensing star event is already difficult. Finding one with a planet is even harder," Pogge said, adding, "We need to observe hundreds of millions of stars to detect even a handful of these microlensing signals."
So far, only 237 out of the more than 5,000 exoplanets discovered to date have been identified using microlensing.
However, with the continuous advancements in technology and the ongoing work of international collaborations like KMTNet, astronomers are hopeful that more discoveries will follow.
The new findings have broader implications for understanding planetary system formation.
The study revealed that exoplanets can be grouped by both their mass and composition, and it highlighted significant gaps in the distribution of certain types of planets.
These insights will likely open new avenues for future research into how planets form, evolve, and interact with their host stars.
"We're reconstructing not only the history of the universe but also the processes that govern it," said Pogge, adding, "Bringing these pieces together into a coherent picture has been incredibly rewarding."
This study was published in the prestigious journal Science, marking a significant advancement in our understanding of exoplanet distribution and formation.
The study was supported by a number of institutions, including the National Science Foundation, Tsinghua University, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, among others.
As technology improves and global collaborations continue, astronomers are optimistic that even more discoveries about the prevalence and variety of exoplanets await, further shaping our understanding of the universe and the conditions that might allow life to thrive elsewhere. (ANI)
First Published: 27 Apr 2025, 03:09 PM IST
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Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Explanation — Shubhanshu Shukla, an Indian astronaut, used a ham radio from the International Space Station to communicate with schoolchildren in his home country. — Amateur radio, sometimes known as ham radio, is a licensed radio service that uses radio waves to create communication. Ham radio service is mostly used for educational and informational purposes, as well as emergency or SOS communications. Trained ham operators can establish contact between two licensed amateur radio operators using a designated frequency, a transceiver, and an antenna. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct. — Communication might be hyper-local, global, or space-based. In India, everyone over the age of 12 is entitled to use a ham radio. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issues these licenses. 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Its core mandate includes designing launch vehicles, satellites, and applying space technology for societal development. 4. ISRO functions autonomously under the Ministry of Science & Technology. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 4 only (b) 1, 2 and 3 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) All of the above Explanation — Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the space agency of India. The organisation is involved in science, engineering and technology to harvest the benefits of outer space for India and the mankind. — ISRO is a major constituent of the Department of Space (DOS), Government of India. 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(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation According to 'The energetic ultraviolet light from these first stars was capable of splitting hydrogen atoms back into electrons and protons (or ionizing them). This era, from the end of the dark ages to when the universe was around a billion years old, is known as 'the epoch of reionization.' It refers to the point when most of the neutral hydrogen was reionized by the increasing radiation from the first massive stars. Reionization is an important phenomenon in our universe's history as it presents one of the few means by which we can (indirectly) study these earliest stars. But scientists do not know exactly when the first stars formed and when this reionization process started to occur.' Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 121) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 120) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than five years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
