Scientists Discover a New Earth-Like Planet In The Form of Proxima b
Mankind may have taken another great leap towards the discovery of extraterrestrial life, as scientists from the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have found another Earth-like planet orbiting the star closest to our Solar System.
This new discovery was reported by the journal "Nature" days ago. The researchers describe the planet as having the same size as Earth, possessing both liquid and rocky terrains. Apart from the similarities, this had become a point of interest for scientists due to the fact that it is near the star Proxima Centauri, which is the one closest to our Sun.
Astronomists from Chile have found the same discovery, and their findings are just the same as ESO's.
In addition, a new report from Space.com had purported that the planet is 4.24 light-years away, and may be suitable for habitat. However, recent studies from NASA have debunked this possibility. To that regard, they have arrived at the hypothesis that its surface might prove fatal for man.
A modelling study, performed by Rory Barnes and his team from NASA's Astrobiology Institute, have constituted different possibilities for loads of variables that are currently unknown, such as variability in the parent star's brightness, Proxima b's atmosphere, and so on.
The hypothesis is further supported by the fact that Proxima Centauri is, at its current state, a red dwarf. Though red dwarves are slow-burning, and have lower energy outputs in comparison to our sun, they can be highly variable in terms of brightness and their emissions might be inconsistent.
Furthermore, Proxima Centauri has been measured dropping its energy output by up to 17% - a huge gap if compared side to side with our own sun.
Still, some scientists hold optimism that life may exist in Proxima b. As it stands, the only way for humanity to prove this point is by sending a probe through the Breakthrough Starshot method. The said procedure allows room for ultra-fast-light driven nanocrafts to reach Proxima Centauri in just over 20 years, rather than travelling for 160,000 years - the average travel time of a NASA Shuttle to the said point.
