NASA has discovered a very young planet that may harbor life.
Scientists have discovered an exoplanet that may contain liquid water. This distant planet, named LHS 1140, could even have an atmosphere similar to that of Earth. Since humans have gazed at the stars, we have been captivated by the search for life beyond our planet. However, this search may soon come to an end as researchers have identified a planet that could become our "best candidate" for finding extraterrestrial life in the cosmos. This was reported by Mashable, as stated by UNN.
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Observations have confirmed that the neighboring planet may possess an ocean of liquid water and even a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, much like Earth.
Lead author Charles Cadieux from the University of Montreal stated, "Of all the known exoplanets with temperate climates, LHS 1140 b may be our best option to one day indirectly confirm the presence of liquid water on the surface of an alien world beyond our Solar System."
This exoplanet is approximately six times more massive than Earth and orbits a small red dwarf star that is about one-fifth the size of our Sun at a distance cool enough to potentially allow for water formation.
Recent analysis has shown that the exoplanet is significantly less massive than an object of its size should be. This left researchers with two possibilities: either LHS 1140 b is a "mini-Neptune" primarily composed of liquefied or frozen gas, or it is a "Mega-Earth" covered in liquid or frozen water.
The exoplanet LHS 1140 b resides in the habitable zone of its star, where liquid water could exist. Its substantial mass also provides it with a high enough escape velocity to retain a dense atmosphere, as illustrated in this planetary diagram.
To determine which scenario is accurate, researchers combined data from JWST and other space telescopes, such as Hubble and Spitzer, to conduct the first "spectroscopic" analysis of LHS 1140 b. Since certain molecules block different wavelengths of light, measuring the frequencies of light passing by the planet allows us to infer which chemicals may be present.
Dr. Ryan Macdonald, an astronomer from the University of Michigan who worked on the paper, remarked, "This is the first time we've seen hints of an atmosphere on a rocky or ice-rich exoplanet in the habitable zone."
While they caution that further observations from JWST are necessary, the atmosphere may be nitrogen-rich, comprising 78 percent of Earth's atmosphere.
Dr. Macdonald adds, "LHS 1140 b is one of the best small exoplanets in the habitable zone capable of supporting a thick atmosphere, and we may have just found evidence of air existing in this world."
Similar to the Moon's orbit around Earth, LHS 1140 b has a synchronous orbit, meaning one side is always turned away from the star.
Although researchers believe the exoplanet is likely a frozen "snowball," this implies that there could be liquid water on the star-heated side.
Dr. Ryan Macdonald, an astronomer from the University of Michigan who worked on the paper, stated, "This is the first time we've seen hints of an atmosphere on a rocky or ice-rich exoplanet in the habitable zone."
While they warn that additional observations from JWST are needed, the atmosphere may be rich in nitrogen, which makes up 78 percent of Earth's atmosphere.
Dr. Macdonald adds, "LHS 1140 b is one of the best small exoplanets in the habitable zone capable of supporting a thick atmosphere, and we may have just found evidence of air existing in this world."
Similar to the Moon's orbit around Earth, LHS 1140 b has a synchronous orbit, meaning one side is always turned away from the star.
Although researchers think the exoplanet is likely a frozen "snowball," this means that there could be liquid water on the side heated by the star.