The chances of finding alien life were given a boost last night after Nasa revealed it had found evidence of more than 1,200 planets in orbit around far distant stars. If the findings are confirmed, it will more than triple the number of known planets outside our own solar system in one fell swoop - and, amazingly, 54 of them could be able to support life. Only two potentially habitable planets have previously been found outside earth's solar system, so Kepler chief scientist William Borucki said 54 is 'an enormous amount, an inconceivable amount'. The revelation came as American scientists announced the discovery of a new planetary system made up of at least six planets orbiting a star 2,000 light years away. (Daily Mail)
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Chances of finding aliens given a boost after Nasa finds evidence of over 1,200 MORE planets - and 54 of them may be able to support life!
The chances of finding alien life were given a boost last night after Nasa revealed it had found evidence of more than 1,200 planets in orbit around far distant stars. If the findings are confirmed, it will more than triple the number of known planets outside our own solar system in one fell swoop - and, amazingly, 54 of them could be able to support life. Only two potentially habitable planets have previously been found outside earth's solar system, so Kepler chief scientist William Borucki said 54 is 'an enormous amount, an inconceivable amount'. The revelation came as American scientists announced the discovery of a new planetary system made up of at least six planets orbiting a star 2,000 light years away. (Daily Mail)
