If another “Earth” exists in the universe, where is it and what does it look like?
Earth, often referred to as the “blue planet,” is home to millions of species, including humans. To date, it remains the only known place in the universe with life.
However, that doesn’t stop scientists from searching for planets similar to Earth to potentially serve as future replacements.
With advanced planet-hunting techniques, we have identified thousands of candidates outside the Solar System. Most of them are exoplanets orbiting Sun-like stars, often referred to as exoplanets.
Here are some fascinating discoveries about Earth-like planets located in distant worlds:
GJ 667Cc
Comparison of the sizes between Gliese 667C c and Earth (Image: Space).
In February 2012, an international group of scientists reported the results of their research focused on GJ 667C (Gliese 667C), a red dwarf star linked to two other orange dwarf stars. They are located about 22 light-years away from Earth.
Subsequently, GJ 667C c, a super-Earth with a 28-day orbit, was discovered in the Goldilocks zone of GJ 667C. It receives 90% of the light that Earth receives.
Most of this light is in the infrared spectrum, meaning that the planet has the potential to absorb higher-energy radiation.
The key is that GJ 667C c could potentially sustain liquid water and life as we know it. However, later observations revealed that the planet’s temperature is extremely hot, making it less likely to support life.
Kepler-452b
An artist’s rendition of Kepler-452b (Image: Getty).
Kepler-452b, affectionately referred to as Earth’s “cousin,” is an exoplanet located about 1,400 light-years away from us.
It was discovered by NASA’s Kepler space telescope in 2015. This was the first near-Earth-sized world found within the “habitable zone” of the star Kepler-452.
Kepler-452b is approximately 1.6 times the size of Earth and orbits a sun-like star in a similar fashion to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. It takes about 385 days to complete one orbit.
The star itself also possesses conditions favorable for the existence of liquid water on its surface.
TRAPPIST-1e
TRAPPIST-1e is approximately 40 light-years away from Earth (Image: Getty).
TRAPPIST-1 is a star system discovered in 2016, consisting of seven planets orbiting a small star.
They are located about 40 light-years away from Earth. What excites scientists about this star system is that it hosts planets with sizes most similar to Earth’s to date.
However, most of the exoplanets from TRAPPIST-1b to TRAPPIST-1h experience “tidal locking,” meaning one side of the planet is always illuminated, while the other remains in cold darkness.
Only TRAPPIST-1e could potentially be the sole planet within the system capable of supporting life.
GJ 1002b and GJ 1002c
Orbiting the red dwarf star GJ 1002, located about 16 light-years away from Earth, GJ 1002b and GJ 1002c are planets within the habitable zone.
These rocky planets have masses roughly equivalent to Earth. GJ 1002b takes about 10 days to orbit its host star, while GJ 1002c takes over 21 days.
Both planets were only discovered in 2022, and further research is needed to understand them better.
TOI 700e
TOI 700e is of the same size as Earth and possesses conditions considered “suitable” for life
(Image: TecheBlog).
In early 2023, NASA announced the discovery of TOI 700e, a planet with the same size as Earth.
TOI 700e takes 28 days to orbit its host star, at a distance just right for the possibility of life to thrive.
Here, water could exist on the surface in a liquid form under suitable temperatures. Planets with such conditions are considered “habitable” for life.
So, while Earth remains the only known oasis for life in the universe, the search for other Earth-like planets continues, offering intriguing possibilities and questions about the existence of life beyond our home planet.