Sara Seager, an astrophysicist and planetary scientist at MIT, has been searching for worlds beyond our own solar system for decades. Dubbed exoplanets, these heavenly bodies had been something of a mystery within the scientific community, right up until the time Swiss astronomers discovered one of them, the enormous 51 Pegasi b, in 1995. Exoplanets are among the most exciting finds in astronomy—many would argue they’re the most exciting—because they offer the promise of life on other planets. Black holes This story is from Kinfolk Issue Forty Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 40 A Survey of the Future Five future-focused thinkers on what comes next. Arts & Culture Issue 40 Future Flags Five flags that symbolize a future state of mind. Arts & Culture Fashion Issue 40 Patent Pending New additions to the cosmos of useless contraptions. Arts & Culture Issue 40 Archive: Bodys Isek Kingelez A sculptor’s vision of the city of the future. Arts & Culture Issue 40 DO THE ROBOT A study of dancing androids. Arts & Culture Issue 40 The End Games A cultural primer for the end of days.
