Regina Barber

Scientists have found thousands of exoplanets since then by relying on a little trick of gravity.

Scientists have found thousands of exoplanets since then by relying on a little trick of gravity.

Scientists have found thousands of exoplanets since then by relying on a little trick of gravity.

Compared to the planet, the star is massive, so the pull of gravity from the planet doesn't make it move much.

Compared to the planet, the star is massive, so the pull of gravity from the planet doesn't make it move much.

Compared to the planet, the star is massive, so the pull of gravity from the planet doesn't make it move much.

Basically, planets make their stars wiggle. But we haven't always been able to directly observe this wiggle. Our telescopes just haven't been sensitive enough to detect it. So in the past, we've mainly used other methods instead. And these methods...

Basically, planets make their stars wiggle. But we haven't always been able to directly observe this wiggle. Our telescopes just haven't been sensitive enough to detect it. So in the past, we've mainly used other methods instead. And these methods...

Basically, planets make their stars wiggle. But we haven't always been able to directly observe this wiggle. Our telescopes just haven't been sensitive enough to detect it. So in the past, we've mainly used other methods instead. And these methods...

But those planets are only part of the story. Without a way to find planets far from their stars, scientists haven't been able to paint a full picture of these solar systems until now.

But those planets are only part of the story. Without a way to find planets far from their stars, scientists haven't been able to paint a full picture of these solar systems until now.

But those planets are only part of the story. Without a way to find planets far from their stars, scientists haven't been able to paint a full picture of these solar systems until now.

This new method lets us fill in the gaps of the picture, finding planets that astronomers couldn't detect before.

This new method lets us fill in the gaps of the picture, finding planets that astronomers couldn't detect before.

This new method lets us fill in the gaps of the picture, finding planets that astronomers couldn't detect before.

So today on the show, the next phase of exoplanet discovery, how scientists are filling in missing pieces of a solar system puzzle, and how this search has just begun. I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

So today on the show, the next phase of exoplanet discovery, how scientists are filling in missing pieces of a solar system puzzle, and how this search has just begun. I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

So today on the show, the next phase of exoplanet discovery, how scientists are filling in missing pieces of a solar system puzzle, and how this search has just begun. I'm Regina Barber, and you're listening to Shortwave, the science podcast from NPR.

Okay, Josh, so to start, can you tell me, how have we found exoplanets in the past? Like, what methods do we know work?

Okay, Josh, so to start, can you tell me, how have we found exoplanets in the past? Like, what methods do we know work?