Scientists say some alien worlds may be more habitable than Earth
Researchers suggest some planets beyond our solar system could support life more abundantly and for longer than Earth.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
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What happened
Scientists say there may be planets outside our solar system that are more habitable than Earth, where life could be more abundant and sustainable. Researchers are especially interested in planets orbiting orange K-dwarf stars, which could support life for billions of years longer than the Sun. New findings suggest planets in the Milky Way fall into one of two families, with a genetic link between each planetary system and its star that helps determine its fate.
Why it matters
The findings suggest Earth may not be the best planet for life. They also indicate that a planet's star helps determine its long-term fate.
Timeline
- Oct 13, 5:00 AM ET: The New York Times reports that scientists believe some planets outside the solar system may be more habitable than Earth.
- Oct 13, 10:50 PM ET: Researchers focus on planets orbiting orange K-dwarf stars, which could support life for billions of years longer than the Sun.
- Oct 14, 5:00 PM ET: Scientists report that Milky Way planets belong to one of two families linked to their stars.
Coverage
- Planetary genealogy: Milky Way worlds belong to 1 of 2 ‘families,’ scientists find (space.com)
- Earth May Not Be The Best Planet For Life, Scientists Say Better Worlds Could Exist (NDTV)
- There’s Worlds Out There More Habitable Than Earth (The New York Times)
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