NASA just confirmed its 6,000th alien world. Some are truly bizarre

NASA's exoplanet count has reached 6,000, marking decades of cosmic exploration that has transformed our understanding of the universe. While our solar system has equal numbers of rocky and giant planets, rocky planets appear more common elsewhere, with bizarre varieties including lava-covered worlds, Styrofoam-density planets, and those with gemstone clouds. NASA continues advancing exoplanet research with upcoming telescopes like Roman and the Habitable Worlds Observatory to search for Earth-like planets and potential signs of life.