There Are More Earth-Like Planets Out There Than We Thought

A new era in search for 'sister Earths'?
Space & Earth science / Astronomy

A Jupiter-sized planet passes in front of its star in this artists impression of a transiting exoplanet. Photo: NASA ESA and G. Bacon

Research presented at a recent astronomical conference is being hailed as ushering in a new era in the search for Earth-like planets by showing that they are more numerous than previously thought and that scientists can now analyze their atmospheres for elements that might be conducive to life.

When we work with this a lot more, we're likely to find that earth-like planets are almost as numerous as the stars.