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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Dhananjay Khadilikar with RFI

Swiss exoplanet pioneer reflects on Earth’s place in the cosmos

This image shows the disk of dust and gas around the star TWA 7, with data from two telescopes combined. A clear gap in the ring marks where the exoplanet TWA 7 b orbits. © AM Lagrange et al/JWST/ESO/Handout via REUTERS

In October 1995, Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz made a groundbreaking discovery: the first exoplanet orbiting a solar-type star. This moment marked the beginning of a new era in astronomy and planetary science, earning the Swiss pair the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics. In a recent visit to the Sorbonne, Queloz shared some of his insights with Radio France Internationale.

Since the first discovery, nearly 6,000 exoplanets have been confirmed, with thousands more candidates awaiting verification. Each one offers a small glimpse into the diversity of planetary systems across the galaxy.

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