News in Brief Astronomy

A new algorithm finds nearby stars that could host hidden worlds

The computer program identified more than 350 objects for follow-up

51 Pegasi

LOOK TO THE STARS  This giant planet orbiting the star 51 Pegasi (illustrated) was the first confirmed exoplanet around a sunlike star. A new algorithm hopes to find hundreds of similar worlds by looking at stars’ chemical elements.

JPL-Caltech/NASA

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

A new planet-hunting algorithm suggests that at least 9 percent of nearby stars could host planets orbiting out of sight — and the stars’ chemistry could help find the worlds.