Here is a backgrounder on the search for far-away planets that could support some form of life -- though not necessarily as we now understand it. That proved something was circling the star, even though they couldn't see it directly, being some 50 light years from Earth. Today there are 4,057 confirmed exoplanets, according to the NASA Exoplanet Archive, and at least as many likely candidates. Life on Earth is also unimaginable without an atmosphere, containing in our case the oxygen organisms need to survive. Scientists are now evaluating potential chemical combinations that might indicate alien life -- which might be nothing like we know it.

Source: The Local October 09, 2019 07:18 UTC