6 Exoplanets in our Universe That Could Support Life Other Than Earth

Could we support life somewhere else in our universe? Researchers have identified some exoplanets that are promising.

By Anna Nordseth
Jul 31, 2024 4:00 PMJul 31, 2024 3:52 PM
Kepler-186f, the First Earth-size Planet in the Habitable Zone
The artist's concept depicts Kepler-186f , the first validated Earth-size planet to orbit a distant star in the habitable zone—a range of distance from a star where liquid water might pool on the planet's surface. The discovery of Kepler-186f confirms that Earth-size planets exist in the habitable zones of other stars and signals a significant st (Image credit: NASA Ames/JPL-Caltech/T. Pyle)

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Beyond Earth's blue skies stretches a universe full of possibilities, including countless stars with planets that might support life. While Earth is the only known host of life, astronomers have identified several exoplanets that could potentially support it.

"An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than our Sun,” explains Michelle Hill, an Earth and planetary science researcher at the University of California, Riverside.

One crucial factor in determining a planet's potential for life is its location within the "habitable zone," or "Goldilocks zone," of its star. This region is where conditions are just right for life as we know it, allowing liquid water to exist on a planet's surface – not too hot and not too cold.

Here are six of the most promising exoplanets that could potentially support life.

1. Proxima Centauri b

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