Until the last few years, scientists looking for life elsewhere in the galaxy have focused on finding Earth-size planets around sun-like stars. All seven are very close to the dwarf star, circling more quickly than the planets in our solar system. The fourth, fifth and six planets orbit in the star’s “habitable zone,” where the planets could sport oceans. As for the color of the star, “we had a debate about that,” Dr. Triaud said. Dr. Triaud said that if there is life around Trappist-1, “Then it’s good we didn’t wait too long.

Source: New York Times February 22, 2017 18:00 UTC