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First atmosphere found on Earth-like planet in habitable zone of distant star
Yahoo • • general
Key Points:
- Researchers have detected the first atmosphere around an Earth-like, rocky planet, LHS 1140 b, located in the habitable zone of a red dwarf star 48 light-years from Earth.
- The atmosphere contains helium, which alone cannot support life, but scientists suggest other potentially life-sustaining gases may exist in lower atmospheric layers.
- This discovery marks a significant step toward finding Earth-like conditions beyond our solar system, as LHS 1140 b is among the few small, rocky planets found in the "Goldilocks zone" where liquid water could exist.
- Previous candidates like K2-18b and the TRAPPIST-1 system have shown mixed or inconclusive atmospheric results, making this the first confirmed atmosphere on a habitable-zone rocky exoplanet.
- Researchers emphasize that while this finding does not confirm life, it advances the search for extraterrestrial life by identifying planets with atmospheres that could potentially support it.
