They discover the first atmosphere on an Earth-like planet in the habitable zone of a distant star

Researchers have discovered the first atmosphere surrounding a rocky planet similar to Tierra orbiting within the habitable zone of a distant star.

The planet, called LHS 1140 b, is 48 light years from Earth and orbits a red star much smaller and cooler than our Sun.

More than 6,000 worlds have been discovered orbiting distant stars. But this discovery is significant because it brings us one step closer to one of the greatest achievements of science: the discovery of life on another world.

The researchers, in an article published in the journal Scienceare clear: they have not achieved it yet, at least not yet.

But for a planet to support life, it must have water and, to do so, it must be at the appropriate distance from its star: neither too close, because it will be too hot, nor too far, because it will be too cold, but somewhere in between where the conditions are optimal.

Planetary scientists call it the “Goldilocks zone,” after the fairy-tale girl who was very picky about the temperature of her porridge.

Hundreds of planets have been discovered in the habitable zones of their respective stars, but only a few dozen are small and rocky, like our own Earth, which is another point in favor of a planet’s ability to support life.

But none of them have been found to have an atmosphere. Until now.

Of course, the only gas discovered at the moment in the atmosphere of LHS 1140 b is helium, probably in the upper atmosphere, which alone could not support life.