Whoa! Scientists Just Found a New Planet That Could Be Our Next Home
Unlocking the Mysteries: Gliese 12 b—A Promising Contender as Earth's Nearest Cosmic Cousin
Scientists have identified a potential new haven for human life in a recent study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
Dubbed Gliese 12 b, this Earth-sized exoplanet stands out as the closest temperate world found so far.
Discovered by an international team of scientists utilizing NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), Gliese 12 b orbits a small, cool red dwarf star, sharing similarities with Venus, Earth’s cosmic counterpart. Despite its 40 light-year distance from us, Gliese 12 b’s size—only slightly smaller than Earth—and its potential for human habitation make it a rare find.
The Habitable Exoplanet
With a year on Gliese 12 b lasting just 12.8 Earth days due to its close proximity to its star, scientists estimate its surface temperature to be only about 50°F warmer than our planet’s. Excitedly, Thomas Wilson, one of the study’s authors, expressed to BBC, “Thrillingly, this planet is the closest Earth-sized and temperature planet we know.”
Further Exploration
To determine its habitability, scientists must ascertain its atmosphere’s composition—specifically, whether it contains water, a fundamental requirement for life. While uncertainties persist regarding its atmospheric makeup, Gliese 12 b remains a prime candidate for further study, offering an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the mysteries of distant worlds.
