The American space agency NASA has discovered an Earth-like planet 40 light-years away from Earth, which may contain signs of life.
An international team of astronomers pinpointed the planet’s location using NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite).
Such discoveries are usually made under the ‘transit method’. In this method, a planet is identified when the star’s brightness decreases as it passes in front of its host star.
The exoplanet, called Glaze 12b, is slightly smaller than our planet and has an estimated temperature of 41.6 degrees Celsius, suggesting it has no atmosphere.
The planet Glaze 12b is located in the inner part of the pre-habitable region. The habitable zone in any star system is defined as the distance from the central star where liquid water can exist on the planets.
After the discovery, astronomers are planning to analyze the presence of an Earth-like atmosphere in the planet.
Glaze 12b has been described by scientists as the closest, moderate-temperature, Earth-sized world and is a candidate for future exploration by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
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**Interview with Dr. Emily Carter, Exoplanet Researcher at NASA**
**Interviewer:** Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us today. The recent discovery of Gliese 12b, an Earth-sized exoplanet located 40 light-years away, has generated considerable excitement. Can you explain what makes this planet a candidate for signs of life?
**Dr. Carter:** Thank you for having me. Gliese 12b is intriguing because it lies in the inner part of the pre-habitable zone of its star, where liquid water could theoretically exist. This, combined with its Earth-like size, makes it an excellent candidate for future study in our search for exoplanets that may host life.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the planet’s temperature is about 41.6 degrees Celsius, which suggests it lacks an atmosphere. How does this factor into the search for extraterrestrial life?
**Dr. Carter:** A lack of atmosphere could be a significant barrier to habitability, as it means there could be no protection from solar radiation or retention of liquid water. However, it’s still a valuable target for exploration; we need to understand more about its composition and any potential atmospheric remnants.
**Interviewer:** There’s speculation that future missions with the James Webb Space Telescope might be able to analyze the atmosphere of Gliese 12b. How do you feel about the potential findings?
**Dr. Carter:** The results could change our understanding of how planetary atmospheres develop, especially for planets that are similar in size to Earth but found in different contexts. Discovering even trace signs of an atmosphere could indicate a more complex environment than we initially assumed.
**Interviewer:** Fascinating insights, Dr. Carter. Here’s a thought-provoking question for our readers: Considering Gliese 12b’s location and characteristics, do you believe it’s a sign of hope for discovering extraterrestrial life or rather a reminder of the challenging conditions many planets face? What’s your take?
**Dr. Carter:** That’s a great question! I think it highlights the balance between hope and realism. While we must remain optimistic about finding life beyond Earth, we should also acknowledge the harsh realities many planets face. I invite the readers to share their thoughts on whether they view discoveries like Gliese 12b as an encouraging step towards understanding the universe or as a lesson in the complexities of planetary science.
