The search for planets outside of our Solar System, or exoplanets, has taken off since the first one was detected in the 1990s; now thousands have been identified (such as those in this artist’s conception of the inner rocky planets of the TRAPPIST-1 system). However, all the methods currently used to find exoplanets have drawbacks, such as the requirement of a large time gap between measurements, which increases the potential for errors. In this issue’s Perspective column, “Direct Detection of Exoplanets” optical scientist Marija Strojnik discusses a method adapted from optical testing that uses the wave nature of light, which allows measurements to be made over a short time, potentially increasing accuracy. This method takes advantage of the off-axis position of an exoplanet orbiting its star, which alters the tilt of light wave fronts coming from the planet in comparison with those coming from its star.