"Twinkle, twinkle, little star" is a twisted sort of lullaby for astronomers, because the effect that enchants the casual stargazer blurs images taken by even the most powerful telescopes.
The exoplanets that scientists have identified so far are a pretty eclectic bunch — which is why astronomers were surprised when they realized that a newly spotted planet looked awfully familiar.
“Something was able to hold this steer paralyzed on the dry pasture ground while its left ear, genitals, rectum and tail were bloodlessly excised. There were no struggle marks on the ground anywhere around the animal. That means even its legs never moved! But it dug an 8-inch deep hole with its head that must have been left unparalyzed. …