Lhs 1140b

Lhs 1140b

Newly found super-sized Earth may be close enough to detect signs of life

Scientists have found a planet the size of a jumbo Earth circling a nearby star, meaning it is one of the handful of worlds where astronomers' sensors might be powerful enough to detect signs of life, according to a study published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. The new planet, known as LHS 1140b, receives enough starlight to allow for liquid water, a prerequisite for life on Earth. It lies 39 light years from our solar system - not exactly in the backyard, but close enough that telescopes now under construction may be able to spot oxygen molecules swarming around it. Ref. USAToday.