Kepler 10b

[MikeS]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12158028

I would say this is very exciting news! It suggests that there must be worlds out there that can support life.

It is only in the past three years that we've detected about 200 "exo-planets". Now we've discovered this, surely it is only a matter of time until we find an "Earth-like" one.

I think we will find extra-terrestrial life within my life time.

 

[ThankQ]

This is a good step. But remember, even if we find a main sequence yellow dwarf with a planet with 1 Earth Mass and 1 Earth diameter orbiting at 1 AU, that's not going to be proof of extra-terrestrial life.

 

[MikeS]

This is a good step. But remember, even if we find a main sequence yellow dwarf with a planet with 1 Earth Mass and 1 Earth diameter orbiting at 1 AU, that's not going to be proof of extra-terrestrial life.

I know.

And even if that planet has water, the water may not contain life. There may be no tidal moon allowing life to get out of any oceans. The life that gets out of the oceans may not become intelligent, etc, etc....

But the discovery helps to support the Drake Equation. And as I said, if we've discovered so much in such a short space of time, what else awaits us...

It's all about probability, and the odds are getting shorter and shorter with each new discovery.

Like your sig by the way.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

I saw a documentary recently about exoplanets, focusing on the then recently discovered exoplanets of the Gliese 581 red dwarf system, so I can't really say my knowledge is any good on the subject. It was fascinating, discussing the possible hypothesised greenhouse effect on Gliese 581 c, and its suitability for human habitation (bottom line: it probably wouldn't be a good idea, although other planets might be better candidates including the recently discovered Gliese 581 g).

Kepler 10 b is a great find, and, I dare say, only the beginning.

With exoplanets, and indeed with the exploration of the other moons and planets of our own Solar system, the prospect of extrasolar life is tantalising too, and we need not restrict our search to Earth-like Habitable Zone conditions. This is where I feel our current studies of Earth-based extremeophile micro-organisms will provide us with more insights into life that may exist on the fringes of and even beyond the Habitable Zone.

Even then, I wonder too: does life as a concept need follow the same chemistry and biology as life on Earth - or is even that idea too far-fetched? If this was true, I guess we could breathe a sigh of relief, as they might not want to invade us any time soon - Earth might be outside their Habitable Zone.