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Earth-Like LHS 1140b May Feature The First Atmosphere Found On Exoplanet
The helium loss suggests a stable, hydrogen-poor upper atmosphere, and researchers say the rocky world remains a leading target in the search for life.
- Astronomers identified a rocky Earth-like planet, LHS 1140b, spewing helium into space—a strong indicator of a robust atmosphere orbiting within its star's habitable zone.
- Red dwarfs are typically volatile, often stripping planets of atmospheres through intense solar activity; LHS appears less active than its cousins, maintaining its atmosphere despite close orbital proximity.
- Researchers used computer models tracking how lighter elements like hydrogen and helium would be ejected by stellar outbursts, predicting LHS 1140b's upper atmosphere is helium-rich and capable of supporting life.
- Lead author Collin Cherubim, a planetary scientist at Harvard University, cautioned that while potentially the first Earth-like planet with stable atmosphere, they have "absolutely no evidence for life on the planet."
- Twenty years ago, astronomers questioned if terrestrial-type planets existed at all, Robin Wordsworth, a professor of earth and planetary sciences at Harvard University, noted. "The next question was whether any of them had managed to keep an atmosphere," he added.
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21 Articles
21 Articles
The search for worlds continues, LHS 1140b would give clues about a habitable rocky planet with water
Astronomers have for the first time found evidence of an atmosphere in an Earth-like planet in the habitable zone of another star.
·Munich, Germany
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The planet LHS 1140 b has a mass of about 5.6 times the mass of Earth, making it categorized as a super-Earth.
·Indonesia
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A planet 48 light-years away has 3 key ingredients scientists seek: Rock, an atmosphere and the right temperature, does it have life?
Science News: This might be the closest humans have come to finding another planet that can support life. In a shocking discovery, astronomers have detected an atmo.
·India
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Total News Sources21
Leaning Left6Leaning Right2Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution55% Left
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
55% Left
L 55%
C 27%
R 18%
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