One of the biggest questions in science is whether life exists elsewhere in the universe. A newly published study suggests astronomers may have taken a significant step toward answering that question after detecting an atmosphere surrounding a rocky planet located in a potentially habitable zone beyond our Solar System.
INR Report: Based on reporting by RT. Original article HERE.
A Landmark Discovery Beyond Our Solar System
Astronomers have detected evidence of an atmosphere surrounding a rocky exoplanet located within its star's habitable zone—the first time such an atmosphere has been identified on a rocky world where temperatures may allow liquid water to exist. The discovery centres on LHS 1140b, a so-called "super-Earth" orbiting a relatively calm red dwarf star approximately 49 light-years from Earth.
The findings, published in the journal Science, were made by a Harvard-led international research team analysing observations collected with the WINERED spectrograph on Chile's Magellan Clay Telescope. Scientists detected helium escaping from the planet's upper atmosphere—strong evidence that the planet has retained a substantial gaseous envelope despite billions of years of stellar radiation.
Why an Atmosphere Matters
For scientists searching for life beyond Earth, discovering an atmosphere is a major milestone.
Lead researcher Collin Cherubim described the finding as unprecedented, saying that an atmosphere is considered essential for supporting life as we know it. At the same time, he cautioned that researchers have found no evidence of life itself, only evidence that the planet possesses several of the fundamental ingredients considered necessary for habitability.
The researchers believe LHS 1140b now ranks among the most promising known worlds for studying astrobiology beyond our Solar System.
A Very Different Earth
Although frequently compared with Earth, LHS 1140b would present an extremely challenging environment for any human visitor.
The planet possesses roughly 5.6 times Earth's mass, creating almost double Earth's gravity. While survivable in theory, scientists note such gravity would likely cause severe strain on muscles, joints and the cardiovascular system over extended periods.
Unlike Earth, the planet is also tidally locked, meaning one hemisphere permanently faces its parent star while the opposite side remains in perpetual darkness.
Its host star—a cool red dwarf—is unusually stable compared with many similar stars, which often produce violent stellar flares capable of stripping away planetary atmospheres. Researchers believe this relative calm may explain why LHS 1140b has managed to retain its atmosphere over billions of years.
Water, Helium and the Ingredients for Life
Beyond helium, scientists suspect the atmosphere may also contain nitrogen, water vapour and carbon dioxide, although additional observations will be needed to confirm its precise composition. Previous studies have suggested the planet could possess extensive water reserves beneath its atmosphere.
The RT report also notes that certain microorganisms on Earth—including yeast and E. coli bacteria—have demonstrated the ability to survive in atmospheres composed primarily of helium and hydrogen. While this does not indicate life exists on LHS 1140b, it illustrates the remarkable adaptability of some simple organisms under laboratory conditions.
Still Far Beyond Human Reach
Despite being relatively close in astronomical terms, LHS 1140b remains unimaginably distant.
Travelling at the speed of NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, humanity's fastest object currently leaving the Solar System, reaching the planet would require approximately 860,000 years. With current propulsion technology, any direct exploration remains firmly beyond present human capability.
Does This Affect New Zealand?
New Zealand has an internationally respected astronomy community, with researchers contributing to exoplanet science, radio astronomy and space research through universities and observatories across the country.
Discoveries such as LHS 1140b deepen humanity's understanding of planetary formation and habitability while driving advances in telescope technology, spectroscopy and space science—fields in which New Zealand researchers continue to participate alongside international partners.
The Bigger Picture
For decades, astronomers have searched for worlds that resemble Earth closely enough to support life. Detecting an atmosphere around a rocky planet within a habitable zone represents one of the clearest milestones achieved so far.
While scientists stress there is no evidence that life exists on LHS 1140b, the discovery substantially strengthens its status as one of the most promising candidates for future investigation. As increasingly powerful telescopes come online over the coming decades, researchers hope to analyse the planet's atmosphere in greater detail, searching for chemical signatures that could reveal whether biology has ever emerged beyond our own world.
Source
RT — Astronomers make landmark discovery on next-door ‘super-Earth’ (Published 17 July 2026). Original reporting by RT.