Scientists Find Nearby Planet With an Atmosphere

Astronomers say a nearby "super-Earth" just checked a crucial box: It appears to have an atmosphere. The planet, LHS 1140b, sits a few dozen light-years away in the "just right" zone around a small red dwarf star, where temperatures could allow liquid water, reports the New York Times. New observations, published in Science, point to a helium-rich atmosphere—the first solid evidence that a rocky, potentially habitable planet beyond our solar system has managed to hang on to its gaseous blanket.

Researchers stress they've found ingredients, not aliens. "We have absolutely no evidence for life on the planet," says lead author Collin Cherubim, but the essentials seem to be there: a rocky surface, possible surface water, and an atmosphere that can shield and regulate. Scientists spotted helium leaking from the planet, surmising that it would have run out of the gas if it were not able to replenish its own supply, per Phys.org. That's a strong indication the planet has an atmosphere. The find strengthens hopes that planets broadly similar to Earth are not rare. As MIT astrophysicist Sara Seager, who wasn't involved in the work, puts it: "When there's one, there's more."