Scientists have found a new planet that could hold life that we are quite familiar with.
As a species, we have been asking ourselves for a long time about whether we are alone in the universe or not.
When we think of aliens, we presumably think of something that looks a bit like E.T., but what if that isn't the case at all?
I must admit, I'll be quite let down if we find other life on the planet and it isn't funky looking but I guess it'll still be cool.
Scientists have discovered a new planet that could potentially support human life, using data from NASA satellites.
Named Gliese 12 b, this planet is described as "the closest Earth-sized and temperature planet we know," per BBC News.
The discovery was made by researchers from the University of Warwick in the UK, in collaboration with NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Gliese 12 b orbits a cool red dwarf star, Gliese 12, completing one orbit every 12.8 days, resulting in very short years. Despite this, the planet is of a similar size to Earth and is considered "one of the few known rocky planets where humans could theoretically survive."
Dr. Thomas Wilson, an astrophysicist from the University of Warwick involved in the discovery, highlighted the significance of the find.
“This is a really exciting discovery and will help our research into planets similar to Earth across our Galaxy," he stated in a press release.
“Thrillingly, this planet is the closest Earth-sized and temperature planet we know. The light we are seeing now is from 1984 (40 years ago) – that’s how long it has taken to reach us here on Earth.”
Wilson added: “Planets like Gliese 12 b are very few and far between, so for us to be able to examine one this closely and learn about its atmosphere and temperature is very rare.”
The planet’s estimated surface temperature is around 42 degrees Celsius, which might be uncomfortably warm for some, as reported by the Daily Mail.
A significant challenge is the planet's distance from Earth, located in the constellation Pisces, about 40 light years away.
Scientists have yet to determine the exact composition of Gliese 12 b's atmosphere. One critical aspect of sustaining an atmosphere is the behavior of its star.
Red dwarfs are known for their magnetic activity, which often results in powerful X-ray flares. However, scientists have found no signs of extreme behavior from Gliese 12 so far.
Larissa Palethorpe, co-lead of the study and a doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, emphasized the importance of this discovery for future research.
She stated: "The discovery marks a unique candidate for further atmospheric study that may help unlock some aspects of our own solar system’s evolution."
Palethorpe added: "Earth remains habitable, but Venus does not due to its complete loss of water. Gliese 12 b’s atmosphere could teach us a lot about the habitability pathways planets take as they develop."
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