An international team using Korea’s KMTNet telescopes has found that super-Earths—rocky planets larger than Earth—are far more common than previously believed. Through rare microlensing events, scientists identified distant planets with orbits similar to Jupiter’s, offering fresh insights into planet formation and the vast diversity of exoplanets.

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• Super-Earths may orbit 1 in 3 stars, even at wide distances
• Found using microlensing via KMTNet telescopes in Chile, South Africa, Australia
• Technique uses light-bending caused by massive objects to detect hidden planets
• Discovery reveals more rocky planets at gas-giant distances than expected
• Study divides planets into two types: rocky/Neptune-like and gas giants
• Microlensing key for spotting planets far from their stars
• Finding aligns with, but doesn’t confirm, competing planet formation theories
• Global team from China, Korea, USA led the study
• Only 237 of 5,500+ known exoplanets found via microlensing so far
• Ohio State team built KMTNet cameras critical to discovery