Group finds extrasolar planet habitable

World located 20.4 light years away could harbor life.
Scientists estimate that it is only slightly larger than Earth.

Artist's conception of habitable planet around Gliese 581. (Photo: ESO)

The search is finally over - or, in the words of the scientists themselves, it just got more interesting. A European group of researchers has discovered a planet outside our solar system that is much like Earth, with potential conditions to harbor life.

He is one of the three known planets orbiting a star called Gliese 581. This is a star of the most common of a class known as red dwarfs - smaller and cooler than the Sun The innermost planet is probably a gas giant, similar in size to Neptune, and completes an orbit around the star every 5.4 days on land. It was discovered two years ago.

The innovations are the other two planets, presented in a paper submitted to the journal "Astronomy and Astrophysics" (which was embargoed until this Tuesday 20h). The outermost one complete turn every 84 days and is about eight times the land mass. More interesting is that the middle planet. He has "only" five times the mass of the Earth (the smallest ever detected) and has a year that lasts a measly 13 days.

Although he is much closer to Gliese 581 than Earth's sun, as his star is much dimmer, its orbit falls into the so-called Zone of Habitability. It is the region in which a planet is not neither too hot nor too cold, and may harbor liquid water - essential to life main feature.

The group led by Michel Mayor of Geneva Observatory in Switzerland, estimates that the average temperature in this world is between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius - not unlike the Earth, whose average temperature is 15 degrees.

• Hunting data

The study of planets outside our solar system - there are more than the 200 known today - is still a delicate task. As they are very distant, it is impossible with current techniques, view the planet - the brightness of the star ends up overshadowing the parent. The most common strategy to detect them is to observe the star over time, trying to detect in its light, signs of movement.The idea is that while the planets revolve around the star, they draw from one side to the other, producing a stellar wobble. The detection of this wobble can be deduced that the planets would be needed to produce it.This was the technique used by Mayor and colleagues to detect the cousin closest to Earth today. The problem is that the data obtained with a telescope of ESO (European Southern Observatory) in Chile, do not say everything there is to know about this star. For example, it is possible to establish the mass, but the diameter (roughly the "width") of the world still depends on the chutômetro.Scientists estimate that the star has recently discovered about one and a half times the diameter of Earth (which would give a little less than 20,000 km).

• Cruel Questions

Everything else on this planet remains open. This includes, of course, the most essential features of this world. "We believe it is a rocky planet like Earth, with some oceans," said the G1, by telephone, Mayor. "However, some models suggest that it may be what is called 'ocean planet', with much more water than the Earth."

In the Solar System, there is no example of a planet-ocean. "But the theoretical models show that it could exist elsewhere," says Mayor. The key to this was that the planet to form farther away from the star, where there is more ice, and then migrate to the interior of the system. A nice portion of the total mass would create a global ocean, with many miles deep.Based on the information available, it is impossible to say whether the newly discovered star is most like Earth or a planet-ocean, but the fact is that in both cases, the presence of liquid water would be ensured. For most scientists, this is the basic precondition for the evolution of life.

Image shows the red dwarf star Gliese 581. (Photo: ESO)

• Good and bad news

Of course, between being able to have life and have it go a long distance. And astronomers say they will still need a few decades of research so that the instruments are capable of searching for "signatures" of life in the light of these objects.

The most eloquent conclusion, however, is that the discovery shows evidence that the universe must be full of planets like Earth. The star Gliese 581 is one of the hundred closest to the Sun It is 20.4 light years away - which is not so far away, in astronomical terms, is right there.

The fact that we found so similar neighbors already in the vicinity shows that they must be everywhere. Now it's just a matter of finding.

Via G1.

"Pulse" of the planet may cause periodic extinction

Study reveals that elevation of the continents can kill marine species

Fossils of marine animals show that extinctions occur every 60 million years. (Credit: Shutterstock)

The fossils show that the marine biodiversity of the oceans of the planet falls every 60 million years. It's a cycle that has been going at least 500 million years and his reason was a mystery - until now. A theory formulated by the physicist and astronomer Adrian Melott of the University of Kansas, says that these extinctions are caused by a "pulse" on Earth, what happens with the same periodicity. The pulses would increase the continents, would leave the shallower seas and kill many species.

His conclusion came from a study on the amount of strontium-87 found in marine fossils. The substance is one of four stable isotopes of strontium, although less common than others - it represents only 7% of the total found on the planet. However, Adrian Melott found that the concentration of strontium-87 compared to strontium-86 in fossil marine rises every 60 million years, coinciding with the periods of extinction in the oceans.

The most common way to produce strontium-87 is the radioactive decay of other chemical, rubidium, material common in rocks of the continental crust. The scientist's conclusion was that something should happen to these rocks every 60 million years, to release the substance in the seas.

It was from here that Melott developed his thesis: the continents should be going through a kind of elevation, since this type of rock is the bottom-most layers of the earth. In the new time, they could erode and mix with water. The scientist faced periodic elevation of the continents as evidence of a "heartbeat" of the planet, possibly caused by movements in the Earth's core. The study shows that the conclusion will be published in March in the Journal of Geology.

Source Galileu.

Read books for the second time might be therapeutic

The tip also applies to movies watched more than once.




Who reads the same book or watch the same movie more than once already have an excuse to give to family and friends. The craze has nothing to do with addiction or obsessive behavior, but it is a conscious effort to find deeper layers of meaning in the material and reflect on their own maturity.

This is the result of a research team led by Cristel Russell, a professor at American University in the United States. He interviewed 23 people to identify the reasons for what he called "re-use" of a material and found that the behavior is not an attempt to revive the past, but a search for meaning, which can have great emotional value.


The re-use can even act as a kind of therapy, since it allows one to consider how the interpretation of the book or film changed with time. According to scientists, it can serve as a contrast between the present self and the self of the past. They cite the example of a study participant. Evangelical pastor, he reread the Bible many times. According to their age, interpret passages differently - a sign of growth.

The result of the research, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, can be used by the book market. According to Russell, the sellers always try to bring new experiences and fresh, but the old experiences can also be repeated in order to open new perspectives.



Source Galileu.

Newly discovered exoplanet has more water than Earth

composition shows the planet orbiting its star / / Credit: NASA via BBC

Astronomers have confirmed that the exoplanet GJ 1214b, found in 2009, consists largely of water, like the Earth. Called "Super Earth" by scientists, water and high temperatures of the surface can create an environment conducive to life.

The planet (it's outside our solar system) GJ 1214b is relatively close to Earth, located 40 light-years away. It is larger than the planet and less than giant as Jupiter. Through observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, researchers were able to study details.

The Hubble telescope can capture images of other galaxies / / Credit: NASA

It has been found, for example, that this planet is 2.7 times the diameter of the earth mass and an almost 7-fold. A complete órbitra around a dwarf red each 38 hours, at a distance of 2 million miles. By calculating the density of the planet, the scientists could also prove that he has more water than land and that its surface temperature is about 230 ° C.

"This planet is unlike anything we know. The high temperatures suggest that exotic materials can exist there, like 'hot ice' and 'superfluid water', "said astronomer Zachory Berta, the study coordinator.

Scientists speculate that the GJ1214b started to form far from its star, where the ice was abundant, and then approached, through the zone where surface temperatures would be similar to Earth.

Via BBC 

'Colonizing other planets is a matter of time (and money), "says Marcelo Gleiser

Astronomer is one of the interviewees of the program "The Universe" on NatGeo.




For the astronomer Marcelo Gleiser, is only a matter of time (and money) to get to visit other planets, to colonize their lands and exploit its natural resources. Gleiser, astrophysics professor at Dartmouth College, one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States, is one of the interviewees of the program The Universe, which premieres this Sunday (15/01) National Geographic channel at 21pm.

The series aims to show the most important discoveries of space research, using computer graphics techniques, role play and examples of day-to-day to explain concepts of astronomy. The first episode shows how humans could survive the rigors of space and addressing adverse as radiation from the sun, huge swings in temperature and the absence of gravity.




In conversation with the magazine Galileu, Gleiser said some details of the program and explained how humans could explore space and colonize other solar systems. See the interview:

"The series The Universe can pass some concepts of astronomy so very simple. How do you do to make this science, which sometimes seems so far away, into something meaningful to the lay public?

The interesting thing about this series is that it is not about abstract subjects. Rather. The first episode is about how humans can survive in space, it's about space exploration. The second is about how we could mine the other planets. There is another episode about how we can build space structures, driving on the moon, for example. This series is not about the great mysteries of the universe, is not about dark energy, black holes, Big Bang.

People have a huge interest in both practical issues (Are we going to Mars?) And these fundamental questions (How did the universe? What's inside a black hole). These are issues that are part of our collective culture. It is this kind of theme that science is playing a role very different from traditional, becomes part of a metaphysical question. The trick is to speak of abstract matters in the most concrete possible, using metaphors and analogies. But this is not the case with this program. Not that I do not like to discuss these issues, but the series is very real. Each episode deals with issues that would be part of the day to day if we were to space.

But you think it will happen someday?

The only thing left for us to take astronauts to Mars is money. There are still some obstacles. Radiation, for example, is intense, we must develop ways to protect ourselves against it. The atmosphere of Mars would also be terrible for us. But problems are technological, not fundamental. We must invest in research to get these new technologies. I think it's a matter of political will, which today is in the hands of the United States and China. At the time of the Cold War, it was worth investing in trip to the moon Now, however, the gain is not so clear.

At the end of the first episode, you say that the construction of artificial gravity environments to help in space exploration. Why?

One of the major problems of space travel is the fact that we have put men in the absence of gravity. We develop accustomed to our weight here on Earth. We have a muscle and bone structure that supports this force. In space, just letting you use these muscles. Then there is a serious problem of muscle atrophy and weakening of the skeleton.

What to do with the human body that will stay six months in zero gravity? One of the things that must be done is to create artificial gravity. We can, for example, accelerate a spacecraft. You have a car sped up and felt that push back? This is like an artificial gravity. At first, we could use this acceleration. However, since this would mean much fuel, is an infeasible solution. Another proposal is to build a spaceship that has rotation. If it's spinning like a carousel, you feel a pull out. This also simulates the gravity pull. I do not know if you remember the movie 2001 - A Space Odyssey, but it is one of the ships.

Space travel may one day become commonplace?

I think so. Our grandchildren are going to vacation on Mars. Will have summer camps on the planet for them. I see this as a kind of evolutionary necessity, just look at the history of colonization of the planet Earth. Africans and Asians have spread across the planet in search of food and environments to stay. And that has happened since the first nomadic hunters to European settlers. Along with this, there is an urge to go further. Human beings are by definition colonizers. We have a historical necessity to leave the planet, colonize the solar system and eventually go to other systems.

When that will happen nobody knows. I do not know if it is true that we to Mars in 15 years. But eventually it will happen. A series of episodes shows, for example, which may be diamond and Urano Neptune. If such a thing happens, the economic viability of this trip becomes resolved. For now, space exploration has been something of governments. But perhaps the future is in the private interests in the hands of entrepreneurs wanting to make money.

Some theorists propose that, to colonize space, we should send humans into no return trips to other planets. But that would not be cruel, since the conditions they would face would be terrible?

At least at the time of the Spaniards, they believed in the existence of El Dorado, so there was some hope that they would find a nice place. Quite different from what awaits us in space. However, I once saw an interview of a millionaire who paid for a trip to the space shuttle. He was so moved by what he saw to revolve around the Earth, if you were offered the opportunity to go to Mars and not return, he would yesterday. I think we would find a surprising number of volunteers for this type of travel.

But there is the possibility that such colonization is made gradually. Before you send people, we could send probes to build a remote environment, as well as the South Pole have an environment where people can survive, which is relatively large. And when this place was ready, send out some families there, knowing that never return. Then gradually, more people would come. And eventually we would create a community land there. This series is about the human aspirations of one day spread throughout the universe. Its beauty is that it responds to this enormous curiosity about the possibility of getting out of the earth and to be aliens from other planets."


Source Galileu.

8 things you did not know about sex

New studies show that there is still much to discover.


You thought you knew everything about sex? To show that not, and also to help you better understand this particular world, met some recent studies that present new perspectives on sex. Check out:

Credit: shutterstock

1) Genetics can affect when a person will lose his virginity

The best time for the first time is an individual decision. However, recent studies show that genetics may influence how early you make that decision. A survey conducted by the University of California accompanied some twins, separated at birth, throughout their lives and found that there is a strong genetic link involving the decision to lose her virginity.

"There is a gene that sends having sex at certain times, but some genetic traits such as impulsivity, affect the decision. Although, of course, social customs also play an important role, "says an author of the study, Nancy Segal.

2) The clitoris is the organ most internal than external

Contrary to popular belief, the famous female sexual organ is like an iceberg: although a visible part, most of the clitoris is located within the pelvis. When a woman is aroused, the clitoris involves the entire vagina, making sex more enjoyable.

This discovery is relatively recent in the medical community. Only in the 90s, the researchers could see a full body MRI system, and in 2009, the world was first introduced to a full 3D ultrasound image of the organ.

3) Semen is nutritious

A middle aged man ejaculates the equivalent of a teaspoon. Each "part" that contains about 15 calories, similar to egg protein, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B12 and zinc.

4) Sex can help you be healthy

A survey conducted by the University of Pennsylvania found that having sex twice a week can strengthen the immune system, since it increases the levels of immunoglobulin A, whose function is to protect the body from destructive cells seeking to enter the nose and mouth.

Another study published in Biological Psychology showed that frequent sexual activity decreases the levels of cortisol in the body and therefore makes a person less stressed and better emotional balance.

5) Sex makes women more attractive

When women have sex often, their estrogen levels increase and consequently the hair looks brighter and smoother skin. Furthermore, the increase of blood flow causes an orgasm are more pink cheeks and lips redder.

6) There is no way to escape the STDs

The American Association for Sexual Health has warned that more than 80% of sexually active adults will contract some type of STD (Sexually Trasmissível disease) at some point in life.

Although the numbers seem daunting, most people will not suffer any ill effects and will not even notice who contracted sexually transmitted disease. That's because more than 25 types of STDs are asymptomatic. In any event, prevention is always necessary.

7) Contraceptives affect the relationship

A Scottish study examined the sexual and emotional relationship of over a thousand women worldwide. The conclusions were that most of them are sexually incompatible with partners. To maintain good relationships, women are abdicating their wishes in relation to sex.

The researchers believe that this is because the pill affects the brain chemistry of the woman, leaving her more interested in a long term relationship than to find the best partners.

8) Food can alter the taste of semen

Scientists warn, boys, if they want to please their sexual partners, caring for the food! This is because studies have shown that fruits, especially watermelon, kiwi and pineapple, leaving the lighter taste of semen, while beer and coffee cause a stronger flavor and bitter.

Since meat and fish leave the semen with buttery taste, while more acidic fruit and liqueurs can leave it with taste sweeter. Milk, in turn, contains high levels of bacteria and, therefore, can leave the semen with bad taste.




Via Oddee.

The five most common regret at death's door

Do you regret not having (or have) done if you were to die today?

The lack of friends is one of the most common complaints deathbed / / Credit: Shutterstock

An Australian nurse named Bronnie Ware, working with palliative care, taking care of patients in their last weeks of life. Inspired by the stories that followed, she created a blog that records their conversations with whom he was on his deathbed.

The site was so successful that it became a book called The Top Five Regrets of the Dying (The five biggest regrets of dying), no release date in Portuguese. In it, Bronnie share their experiences and consider what are the complaints of those who came to the brink of death. Check out the most common:

1. I wish I had taken the life my way and not the way others wanted

The most common regret of all. According Bronnie, when people realize that his life came to an end, it becomes easier to see how many dreams they left behind. "Health brings a freedom that few realize they have until they lose it."

2. I would not have worked so

Bronnie account that this desire was common to all the men she met. They talk about miss seeing the children growing up or the company of his wife. This does not mean that women do not have the same complaint - but as most of the patients of the nurse are an older generation, not all have to work to support his family.

3. I would have talked more about my feelings

To live in peace with others, many people end up suppressing their own feelings. According to nurse some of his patients developed disease by loading up this resentment and this resentment and never talk about it.

4. I did not want to have lost touch with my friends

"We all miss the friends when they are dying," said Bronnie. She said many people do not realize they miss the friends until weeks before his death.

5. I wish I had allowed myself to be happy

According Bronnie, many people only realize in the end that happiness is actually a matter of choice. "Fear of change made ​​them pretend to others and themselves that they were pleased when, at bottom, all they wanted was to laugh and have more happy moments," she concludes.

Via The Guardian.

6 findings that defy physics

Meet phenomena that completely contradict the laws of science

Higher speed than the speed of light? Matter disappearing into thin air? Particles that behave differently when observed? This is not stuff of science fiction - it all happens right here in our universe. Learn what are the phenomena that science still can not explain:

1. The sun can emit waves hotter than itself

According to the laws of thermodynamics, heat always travels from the hotter body to the colder body. That's what makes you close to the stove enjoying the warmth on cold days. It is a universal law. Or almost. Apparently, the Sun can emit heat waves hotter than himself.

The surface of the star has an average temperature of 5500 ° Celsius. Since the layer that is hundreds of miles from the Sun, known as "corona", has an average temperature of a million degrees Celsius. According to physics, the heat source (the Sun) should be hotter than its issue. Until now, this is the only case of the phenomenon known in the Universe.

The Sun is the only object in the universe that contradicts the laws of thermodynamics / / Credit: Shutterstock

2. Gravity doesn't make as much sense as well

Gravity is involved in everything we do - after all it is what keeps us stuck on Earth. But what if the law of gravity was not a law? And if it does not make sense? For know that on a smaller scale, it makes no sense. Just rub the tube of a pen-type "Bic" in her hair and passes it over a pile of papers. The paper is instantly attracted by static electricity from the pen and stick it, contrary to the laws of physics.

This phenomenon is called "hierarchy problem of Higgs." When small particles are analyzed, the gravity becomes very poor - it follows the Newton's laws only larger objects. This means that the smaller the scale of the object being analyzed, the greater the chances of gravity disappear completely. In other words: thank you for being in a large planet, which generates enough gravitational force to keep us on the ground (and to have enough mass to "correspond" to that strength).

3. Spaceships accelerate for no apparent reason

Imagine you're playing in a rocking chair. You boost your body until it reaches the desired speed and when it reaches its limit, waiting for the toy slow start to drive again. Now imagine that, stop playing down to earth, you accelerate instead of stopping, soaring ever higher.

If you remember from physics lessons well, you know that the law of conservation of energy says that this type of situation is impossible. Unless you push more balance with their feet, you will not accelerate, right? Not always.

In the 1980s, the spacecraft Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11, NASA began to accelerate after a huge distance from Earth, rather than simply having their speed reduced. Since then, scientists are trying to figure out what happened with the Pioneers and the NEAR spacecraft and the Galileo spacecraft, which passed the same way.

4. The law of conservation of energy does not work all the time

If you tear a sheet of paper in smaller pieces as you can, have as much paper as ever, but in a different format, correct? And the paper simply disappear as you tear? If you're a good student of physics knows that this can not happen because any kind of material can be completely wiped out - the same way that we can not create something from nothing.

Now suppose that the Earth is consumed by a black hole. It increases the mass, the same as the mass increases after meals. After all, everything you eat is still there. But, sometimes, black holes disappear completely - taking everything with them and swallowed.

According to physics, they should give away a radiation wave proportional to everything consumed. But, according to Stephen Hawking, all they do is throw random waves of energy. Simply put: if one day the Earth is actually swallowed by a black hole, not only the planet will cease to exist, but any sign that one day he lived.

5. Particles behave differently just because someone is watching

Remember that friend who seems to another person when talking to a group of strangers? Because there are particles which behave similarly. During a day, scientists researched uranium. It is known that this element when it is unstable, undergoing a process of weakening radioactive after some time. And when scientists were not looking, the uranium was exactly what was expected of him - weakened.

But while looking directly into the material, the researchers noticed that there were particles that never weakened. That is, you can stop time for uranium just looking at it. The problem is that in our common life, look for a carton of milk to prevent it from spoiling it makes no sense.

6. Einstein's Theory of Relativity may be wrong

According to Albert Einstein, the speed limit of all that exists in our universe is 299,792,458 meters per second - the known speed of light. It is this rule that is based on the physical theory of relativity that, since 1940, when it was released, it is accepted by the scientific community.

It was in 2011 when scientists at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research, located in Switzerland) fired a beam of particles per 730 km, the veracity of the theory has been questioned. The problem is that the beam arrived at its destination in Italy, 60 nanoseconds sooner than expected, showing that the firing exceeded the speed of light.

The scientific community was stunned and the test was redone several times - all experiments showed the same result: the particles traveled faster than light. This means that the journey warp drive from Star Trek is possible, but for now, only to neutrinos. And if the whole theory of relativity was overthrown, until time travel is possible.

Via Cracked.

NASA intercepts particles outside the Solar System

Atoms can help understand how the galaxy was formed

A NASA spacecraft could detect particles aliens entering our solar system. The discovery, made ​​by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX, in English), provides the most complete view to date of the materials that fill the space from the rest of the galaxy. The researchers are confident that these new measurements will provide clues on how and where our system was formed, the forces that shaped history and other stars of the galaxy.

This type of experiment is very difficult because of a magnetic bubble that surrounds the solar system and protects us from being hit by the interstellar wind. Most of the particles carried by these winds is hit by the bubble, which only lets through those that have no electric charge. After about 30 years, these particles are captured by the solar gravity. This is where the IBEX, which orbits the Earth, can capture them.

IBEX spacecraft, which detected the particles

So far the only element coming from other systems to be received by any nature was helium, for over 10 years. But this time the IBEX detected three other types of atoms: hydrogen, oxygen and neon - the raw material that are formed new stars and planets. They found 74 oxygen atoms for every 20 of neon. In the solar system, this ratio is 111 atoms of oxygen to the same 20. This difference may provide clues about the formation of our system and other stars.

Source Galileu.

Dogs really understand when we are talking to them?

Research reveals that dogs have the intelligence equivalent of a child of one year

Who has dog at home knows that besides adorable and companions, they are great listeners. But do dogs really know when we're talking with them? A Hungarian study to prove that when humans speak directly with the dogs, they are able to pay attention.

The study followed 16 adult dogs that were arranged in a room in order to watch a video in which an actor spoke about two pots of flowers that were at his side. As the dogs watched the video, a camera recorded the eye movements of animals to see if they were able to follow the man when he turned to one of the vessels.

In the moments of the video, the actor greeted the audience with a canine "Hi, dog" really excited to put it directly and with higher voice. Secondly, the compliments were made in a less direct, quietly and with little eye contact.

At the end of the experiment, the researchers suggested that dogs have a kind of social intelligence similar to babies from one to two years old. This is because dogs, like babies, can only pay attention when contact is made directly, the style in the eye. The research also suggested that our best friends are provided with early sensitivity, able to sense when a human being wants to share information.

Apart from bringing relief to know that your dog is really a true confidant, this study is another important step to help researchers figure out how to work the cognitive function of animals.


Via IO9

Smallest chameleon in the world is discovered in Madagascar

The reptile is one of the smallest species that inhabit our planet

Chameleon measures 3 cm / / Credit: Animal Press via dailymail.co

There is a kind of chameleon that is almost impossible to be found and that, therefore, scientists had no idea existed. In addition to the genetic ability to cloak the landscape, the new species is the size of a quarter of a Dollar.

The creature, 3 inches, was discovered this week by researchers in Madagascar and is already considered the smallest reptile in the world. The researchers were able to separate four different types of chameleon among the miniatures, which were named Brookesia microns.

After performing genetic testing in the species, Ted Townsend, University of San Diego, said the size suggests that this chameleon in Madagascar may have evolved from small ancestors, quite different from larger and more colorful chameleons that we know today.

Now, new research will be carried out, but experts now believe they may be the only species that survived the destruction of habitat.

Via Daily Mail. 

Discovered the world's oldest animal

Otavia antiqua may be our oldest ancestor

Fossil Otavia antiqua

Our oldest evolutionary ancestor has been found by researchers at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. He was a microscopic organism like sponges, and was found in very old African stones. If confirmed, the body will be 100 million years older than the oldest animal found so far.

The body, called Otavia antiqua, was discovered inside a Navy rock 760 million years ago in Namibia, the researchers said, may have been the first multicellular animal to emerge on the planet. This means that all animal life, from dinosaurs to man, may be descended from him.

There were hundreds of fossils of the animal, the size of grains of sand. According to the researchers, they must have lived in calm waters and feeding on bacteria and algae abundant in the region. His body was shaped like a tube and feed it through pores in its interior, where the food would be absorbed directly into the cells.

Source Galileu.

Earth-like planet is found around Sun-like star

Star may contain liquid water on its surface.
NASA has announced new data from the Kepler spacecraft on Monday (12/5).


U.S. space agency (NASA) announced on Monday (5) discovered the first planet similar in size to the Earth which revolves around a star like the Sun The planet is 600 light-years distance and was detected by Kepler spacecraft, launched in 2009 with the aim of discovering new "Earths" in space.


Another feature of the star is that it is at a distance from the star that could allow the development of liquid water and atmosphere, ideal conditions for the emergence of life as we know it. When a planet is under these conditions, it is said that he is in a "habitable zone" (also the common term "goldilocks").


The planet was named Kepler 22b. Their discovery is reported in the journal "Astrophysical Journal", a major scientific publications on astronomy.


In February, NASA astronomers had announced a list of 54 stars that could be habitable. Of these, only Kepler 22b was confirmed as a planet. The star has a radius 2.4 times larger than Earth and rotates around its star in 290 days. Scientists still can not say the planet is rocky or gaseous.



Illustration shows what the planet Kepler 22b. (Credit: Ames / JPL-Caltech / NASA)




Data from Kepler


The new balance of Kepler revealed the existence of 1,094 new planet candidates. Of these, 10 were in the "habitable zone" of the stars they orbit. Future observations should confirm that these bodies are planets or not.


Currently, only 600 stars are confirmed as planets by astronomers. The Kepler spacecraft is currently the main unveiled new worlds. The instrument scans the surrounding area of 150 000 stars, all located in a strip in the sky between the constellations Cygnus and Lyra.


To confirm that Kepler 22b was actually a planet, the probe had to check the signal coming from that region at least three times. The star it orbits is a little cooler than our Sun.


Since the last review in February, the number of candidate planets grew 89% and now reaches 2326. Of these, 207 have a size similar to Earth's 680 is larger than our planet, and 1181 are as big as Neptune. The list is completed by 203 stars with the same size as Jupiter and only 55 larger than the biggest star in the Solar System (after the Sun).


Other recent discoveries in astronomy point to the existence of places in space with conditions similar to those of our planet and may even contain life, such as Jupiter's moon Europa.


The yellow traces on the surface of Europa may indicate the presence of bacteria, the ice-covered world may have liquid water, energy, and organic compounds - all three of the ingredients necessary for life to survive, its surface is composed of ice and is one of the smoothest in the Solar System. Strong evidence that there is an ocean beneath the ice surface that will house life as well as early life on earth that would have begun in the oceans.

                                                      Europa.

Another discovery points to a planet with sufficient conditions to host life. The star with only three times Earth's mass was detected at 20 light years away from our Sun, orbiting a star in the constellation Libra known as Gliese 581, a red dwarf. Astronomers at the University of California and the Carnegie Institution of Washington say that the planet is the first to have real potential to support life.

The discovery was announced on Wednesday (29) by the National Science Foundation in the United States. The star called Gliese 581g, is in a region in which astronomers think that a planet may have liquid water to form oceans, rivers and lakes. On site, the distance from the star would allow an environment with a mild climate, neither too cold nor too hot.

A ilustração mostra um formato possível para o exoplaneta que orbita a estrela Gliese 581, a apenas 20 anos-luz de distância da Terra. (Crédito: AP / Zina Deretsky / National Foundation of Science)

The planet's orbit around the star Gliese 581 is just over one month on Earth, with the possible stations year lasting only days.

It is the first planet discovered in the "habitable zone" of the star. In 2007, another planet, located near the same star was cataloged, also with the potential to contain life.

Scientists also estimate that the average surface temperature varies from 31 to 12 degrees Celsius. The team also says that the planet orbits with one side always faces the star, similar to how the Moon always shows one face to Earth.

For astronomers, the planet can "sustain life", which means it has the potential to meet conditions of life. Living things can not necessarily be similar to humans.

According to Steven Vogt, coordinator of the study which included 11 years working in the Observatory W. M. Keck, located in Hawaii, the discovery is an indication that there may be many other similar bodies in the universe.

Results will be published in Astrophysical Journal, but are available online at arXiv.org. By September, 490 planets have been discovered outside our solar system.

Via G1.