The 'exotic' super-Earth that's as dense as lead

Astronomers are thrilled over a nearby world that could promise the most significant breakthrough yet in the study of planetary evolution

A nearby alien planet called 55 Cancri e orbits a star much like our own sun.
(Image credit: Jason Rowe, NASA Ames and SETI Institute and Prof. Jaymie Matthews, UBC)

Astronomers have spotted an "exotic" planet — a nearby "super-Earth" — that they say is the most solid planet ever discovered, with a density very similar to lead. Here, a guide to this find:

What is a "super-Earth"?

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