Big questions about space, answered in plain words
These guides explain how we find planets around other stars, what those faraway worlds are made of, and which ones might be a little like home — no science degree required. Each one is short and friendly, and comes paired with a hands-on tool so you can explore the real data yourself. Start anywhere — and remember the rule we keep coming back to: space is stranger, bigger, and more wonderful than the headlines let on.
Don’t just read about space – explore it
Extremetica isn’t only articles. It’s full of hands-on tools built on real NASA data. Pick a planet, build a star system, or see how far away the stars really are.
June 12, 2026
Inside KOI-351: A Family of 8 Planets
Far away in the Milky Way, a star called KOI-351 has eight planets orbiting around it — just like our own Sun! Scientists are studying one of those planets, KOI-351 g, to learn more about how entire families of planets are built.
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June 12, 2026
How Did We Find GJ 4274 b?
GJ 4274 b is a super-Earth just 23.6 light-years away, and scientists found it without ever seeing it directly. They tracked tiny wobbles in its star’s light to reveal a speedy world that completes one full year in less than two Earth days!
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June 12, 2026
Could HD 40307 g Be Friendly to Life?
About 42 light-years away, a planet called HD 40307 g sits in the zone around its star where liquid water could exist. Scientists can’t visit it yet, but the clues they’ve found make it one of the most interesting worlds to watch when searching for life.
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June 12, 2026
Meet GJ 887 e: A Newly Found Rocky World
Scientists confirmed a new rocky planet called GJ 887 e in 2026, and it is one of the closest exoplanets to Earth ever found. It is a little bigger than our planet, blazing hot, and orbits its star in just over four days — making it a wild world worth learning about.
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June 11, 2026
Proxima Cen d: A World 4.2 Light-Years From Earth
Proxima Cen d is a tiny planet orbiting the closest star to our Sun, just 4.24 light-years away. Scientists found it by watching the star wobble — but what this strange little world is actually like remains a mystery.
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June 11, 2026
Meet GJ 887 d: A Mini-Neptune Around a Small Red Star
Only 10.7 light-years away, a small red star called GJ 887 has a planet our solar system doesn’t — a mini-Neptune! Find out how scientists discovered GJ 887 d, what it might look like inside, and why this chilly world helps us understand planets across the universe.
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