ATMOSPHERE DETECTED ON EARTH-LIKE EXOPLANET 49 LIGHT-YEARS AWAY

Researchers have confirmed the presence of an atmosphere around an Earth-like exoplanet located 49 light-years from Earth, according to findings announced by scientists. The planet, designated LHS 1140b, orbits a small red dwarf star in the constellation Cetus. Dr Collin Cherubim, first author of the study and formerly based at Harvard University, stated this represents the first observationally confirmed atmosphere on a rocky planet within a habitable zone outside our solar system. The discovery also marks the first direct identification of an atmospheric species for any rocky exoplanet, whether in a habitable zone or elsewhere.

LHS 1140b was originally discovered in 2017 and possesses a mass 5.6 times that of Earth, with a radius 70 per cent larger. The planet shares certain characteristics with Earth, including overall composition and temperature range that could support liquid water. However, it differs in significant ways: the planet is tidally locked, may contain substantially more water than Earth, and likely has a markedly different atmospheric composition. The star it orbits is smaller and dimmer than our sun but emits a greater proportion of its energy as ionising radiation.

According to Cherubim, the findings demonstrate that LHS 1140b possesses the fundamental requirements for a habitable environment: a rocky planetary composition, temperatures suitable for liquid water, and an atmosphere capable of retaining water and shielding the surface from harmful radiation. Cherubim described the planet as "the best, most promising, exciting laboratory for studying astrobiology and habitability outside of our solar system". The confirmation of an atmosphere on a rocky exoplanet in a habitable zone represents a significant development in the search for conditions that could sustain life beyond Earth.