Michel Mayor

Swiss Astrophysicist, University of Geneva

Appears in 1 story

Born: January 12, 1942, Lausanne

Education: University of Geneva, University of Lausanne

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

Stories

The exoplanet revolution: 30 years, 6,000 worlds

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As of May 2026: Nobel Laureate (2019 Physics)

NASA confirmed its 6,000th exoplanet in September 2025, marking a milestone exactly 30 years after astronomers discovered the first planet orbiting a Sun-like star. The tally jumped from 5,000 to 6,000 in just three years—an acceleration driven by space telescopes and AI analysis. Over 8,000 additional candidates await confirmation.

Updated May 19