It seems that the answer may be closer than we imagine, after a recent study revealed a planet located only 25 light-years away, which has characteristics that make it one of the most prominent candidates to host life, and it now occupies a high position on the list of targets that will be subject to more precise examinations in the coming years, according to a study published by (The Astrophysical Journal).
Connie’s neighbor
The planet, called GJ 3378b, orbits a red dwarf star known as GJ 3378, and was first discovered in 2024.
But the new study revealed that this world is closer to Earth than scientists previously thought, both in terms of mass and the nature of its composition.
The study’s lead researcher, astronomer Paul Robertson from the University of California, said that the planet is “one of the most Earth-like exoplanets in our cosmic neighborhood,” adding that its distance of only 25 light-years makes it a “cosmic neighbor” compared to the size of the Milky Way Galaxy.
The new measurements showed that the planet’s mass is about 2.3 times the mass of Earth, after initial estimates indicated 5.3 times.
This modification represents an important shift, because planets with a mass less than five times the mass of Earth are often rocky, while larger ones tend to be gas planets, which are less suitable for the existence of life similar to life on Earth, according to the “Science Alert” website.
The study also recalculated the planet’s orbit, showing that it completes a revolution around its star every 21.45 days, instead of 24.73 days as previously thought. Is there water?
Despite its short orbit, it is still located within the habitable zone, which is the range in which temperatures allow liquid water to exist on the surface of the planet if the remaining necessary conditions are present.
The planet receives about 90% of the amount of radiation that Earth receives from the sun, a rate that puts it in an ideal position in terms of temperature.
Despite the encouraging results, scientists confirm that the planet has not yet been proven to be habitable for life, as the presence of liquid water also requires an atmosphere to maintain it, and scientists do not yet have a way to know whether the planet has an atmosphere at all.
Biometric fingerprints
Researchers believe that GJ 3378b has now become one of the most important targets in which future telescopes will search for biological signatures, such as oxygen and methane in its atmosphere, which are indicators that may reveal, for the first time, the existence of life outside Earth.
The study team confirms that the discovery of this planet brings scientists a new step closer to answering one of the biggest scientific questions: Is Earth the only planet that embraces life, or do we have other neighbors who share this privilege?
