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POLITIKOFF

Politiko 2026-07-18 14:21:36

A new discovery by astronomers could mark an important step in the search for Earth-like worlds outside the Solar System.

For the first time, researchers have managed to detect an atmosphere around a rocky planet located within the habitable zone of a distant star – the region where conditions could allow liquid water to exist.

The planet, called LHS 1140 b, is located about 48 light-years from Earth and orbits a red star, smaller and cooler than the Sun. The discovery is considered one of the most important pieces of evidence yet that planets with Earth-like characteristics may exist beyond our own planetary system.

Scientists have identified the presence of helium in its atmosphere, a gas not directly related to supporting life. However, researchers believe that there may be other elements in the atmosphere, which will require further analysis.

The study's lead author, Dr. Collin Cherubim from Harvard University, called the discovery a major scientific achievement.

"It's the first time an atmosphere has been detected on a rocky planet located in the habitable zone of another star," he said.

Astronomers have so far identified more than 6,000 exoplanets – worlds orbiting stars outside our solar system. However, LHS 1140 b is attracting particular attention because of its location and the possibility that it could be discovered in the future if it has conditions suitable for life.

The researchers, who published the results in the prestigious journal Science, emphasize that this discovery does not yet constitute proof of the existence of life on the planet.

According to them, one of the key conditions for a habitable world is the presence of liquid water. For this reason, a planet must be at the right distance from its star – not so close that temperatures are extreme and not so far that the water freezes.

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