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The Best of Our Knowledge
The Best Of Our Knowledge

A lemon-shaped planet and a curious cloud

By Lucas Willard
Published January 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST
Illustration: NASA, ESA, CSA, Ralf Crawford (STScI)
This artist’s concept shows what the exoplanet PSR J2322-2650b may look like. Gravitational forces from the much heavier pulsar it orbits are pulling the Jupiter-mass world into this bizarre lemon shape.

The Best of Our Knowledge explores topics on learning, education, and research.

Scientists have discovered a distant planet that resembles a lemon.

And while studying a mysterious cloud of hot dust 70 light-years away, researchers have found an unusual star.

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Lucas Willard
Lucas Willard is a news reporter and host at WAMC Northeast Public Radio, which he joined in 2011. He produces and hosts The Best of Our Knowledge and WAMC Listening Party.
See stories by Lucas Willard
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