When will the discovery of a life outside the earth be?

The discovery of new exoplanets outside of our solar system continues to amaze researchers. In a recent article published in the journal Nature, an international team of scientists announced the discovery of two exoplanets orbiting a red dwarf star located only 31 light-years from Earth.

The exoplanets, known as ”TOI-1231 b” and ”TOI-1231 c”, were detected using NASA’s TESS space telescope. Both planets have similar sizes to Earth and are located in the habitable zone of their host star, making them potentially suitable for life. TOI-1231 b is closest to its star and has an orbital period of around 11 days. TOI-1231 c, on the other hand, is farther away and has an orbital period of around 16 days. The researchers also estimated that both planets have a density similar to Earth, suggesting that they are composed of rocks and metals.

This discovery is particularly significant as it shows that Earth-sized exoplanets in the habitable zone can exist around red dwarf stars, which make up about 85% of all stars in our galaxy. This greatly increases the chances of discovering extraterrestrial life in the universe. Furthermore, red dwarf stars are known for their stability and longevity, which means that any life that might exist on the exoplanets discovered around these stars could potentially have more time to evolve and develop compared to life around other types of stars.

The discovery of ”TOI-1231 b” and ”TOI-1231 c” also highlights the importance of continued advancements in technology, such as the TESS space telescope, in the search for exoplanets and the potential for habitable worlds beyond our solar system. With the ongoing exploration of space and the increasing accuracy of detection methods, it is possible that we may find even more Earth-sized exoplanets in the habitable zone in the future, further increasing the likelihood of discovering life beyond our own planet.

Written by: Othman Alilou