Nasa scientists have announced the discovery of Kepler 452b, also known as ‘Earth 2.0’, an earth-like planet in our galaxy.
Over the course of years of data-gathering by the Kepler space telescope and even more analysis and work here on Earth, scientists confirmed the existence of the distant exoplanet, which is the most earth-like planet ever discovered.
Although the planet is far too far away to photograph, advanced Nasa technology means we know a surprising amount about this ‘New Earth’.
Earlier this year, there were eight of them. We shall see.
The new planet is slightly larger than Earth, and is estimated to have twice the gravitational pull of our own planet. However, according to the scientists on the Kepler team, this doesn’t mean it couldn’t support life.
But have we ever established that Earth-like conditions are even essential to life?
It seems reasonable to rule out certain types of conditions on probability grounds. That is, we wouldn’t waste time looking in certain environments. But is there an accepted hypothesis on the subject of whether Earth-like conditions are essential to life?
Well, a single alien life form, however weird or simple, would decide the matter, right?
See also: Why the space alien fingertips must exist.
Follow UD News at Twitter!