Astronomers have discovered an exoplanet a mere 22 light years away that is the strongest candidate yet found to be the home of life.
The world is a so-called super-Earth, with 4.5 times the mass of Earth, and orbits a red dwarf. Astronomers hadn't expected to find such worlds around such tiny stars. Further, this planet orbits firmly within its star's habitable zone, which means liquid water can exist on its surface. Scientists go on the assumption that where liquid water exists, life can exist.
Another surprise-- the host star is part of a triple-star system. Astronomers have generally doubted planets could maintain stable orbits over the long term in multiple star systems. Once again, Nature is showing us that the possibilities for life in the cosmos are broader than we imagined.
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