A new study suggests there may be as many as 4.5 billion Earth-like worlds in the Milky Way galaxy. The study's conclusion rests on an analysis of data from the Kepler planet hunting mission and an appreciation of the fact that red dwarf stars could have Earth-like planets capable of supporting life in their systems. Red dwarves account for about 75 percent of all stars in the galaxy.
If the conclusion is correct, it virtually clinches the case for life beyond Earth, and strengthens the possibility that other civilizations exist. It also means that if humanity, or another species based on Earth-like worlds, masters interstellar travel, it should be able to spread throughout the galaxy fairly efficiently.
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