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SUN, 25 OCT · 77 ITEMS
"Stellar activity may explain oversized 'mega-Earths'" — Phys.org · Science & Medicine
A new study suggests that many exoplanets classified as ''—rocky worlds with masses over ten times Earth's—may not actually be that massive. Their oversized properties could be an artifact of (such as starspots or magnetic jitter) distorting the transit and radial velocity measurements used to infer planet size and mass. If correct, this would mean some of the most extreme rocky exoplanets reported to date are actually more typical super-Earths whose apparent heft is a mirage caused by their host stars.
The claim is reported by Phys.org, a reputable science news outlet, and is based on a new study (likely a preprint or journal paper). As a secondary source, the reporting is probably faithful to the study's conclusions, but the solidity of the underlying claim depends on the original paper's methodology, peer review status, and how well it addresses alternative explanations. Without seeing the primary source, we cannot assess the strength of the evidence.
Genuinely new, published on October 22, 2026.