Scientists Estimate 20 Billion Earth-Like Planets In Our Galaxy
A team of astronomers crunching data from the Kepler space telescope say 22 percent of Sun-like stars harbor Earth-like planets.
Source
Earth-Like Planets In Our Galaxy (Hover)
NASA's Kepler spacecraft spots Earth's 'bigger, older cousin'
NASA's Kepler space telescope has captured evidence of a potentially habitable planet more similar to Earth than any system previously discovered amid the sea of stars in the Milky Way galaxy. The new discovery, Kepler-452b, is the most similar to the Earth-sun system found yet. Scientists say the planet has the right temperature within the habitable zone and circles a star very much like the Earth's sun. Ref. USAToday
Its funny how they cannot figure out Pluto yet but scientists are so sure they can predict the atmosphere of a planet that we will never be able to reach in probably several lifetimes if ever.
Three potentially habitable worlds found around nearby ultracool dwarf star
Astronomers have discovered three planets orbiting an ultracool dwarf star just 40 light-years from Earth. These worlds have sizes and temperatures similar to those of Venus and Earth and are the best targets found so far for the search for life outside the Solar System. They are the first planets ever discovered around such a tiny and dim star. Ref. Source 7d.
The problem I have with statements like that is we assume all life is based on what life is like on earth but there could be life based on water as in fish, or fire or wind, etc. In other words, life can exist according to their environment.
Four Earth-sized planets detected orbiting the nearest sun-like star. Astronomers have discovered four Earth-sized planets orbiting the nearest sun-like star, tau Ceti, which is about 12 light years away and visible to the naked eye. These planets have masses as low as 1.7 Earth mass, making them among the smallest planets ever detected around nearby sun-like stars. Two of them are super-Earths located in the habitable zone of the star, meaning they could support liquid surface water. Source 5b.
Rocky or gassy? Massive, dense super-Earth planet detected. A star about 100 light years away in the Pisces constellation, GJ 9827, hosts what may be one of the most massive and dense super-Earth planets detected to date, according to new research. This new information provides evidence to help astronomers better understand the process by which such planets form. Source 5s.