Astronomers have announced a groundbreaking discovery of the nearest temperate, Earth-sized world to date, which may be habitable for humans. This potentially liveable planet, named Gliese 12b, is located 40 light-years away and is slightly smaller than Earth, with a size more comparable to Venus. With an estimated surface temperature of 42°C (107°F), scientists believe the planet could support life, as some parts of Texas have recorded even higher temperatures recently. However, to determine its actual habitability, astronomers need to confirm the presence of an atmosphere, according to the Irish Star.
Masayuki Kuzuhara, a project assistant professor at the Astrobiology Centre in Tokyo, co-led a research team with Akihiko Fukui. Kuzuhara stated, "We've found the nearest, transiting, temperate, Earth-size world located to date. Although we don't yet know whether it possesses an atmosphere, we've been thinking of it as an exo-Venus, with a similar size and energy received from its star as our planetary neighbor in the solar system."
Professor Thomas Wilson from the University of Warwick expressed optimism about the discovery. He commented, "This is a really exciting discovery and will help our research into planets similar to Earth. Sadly, this planet is a little far away for us to experience it more closely. The light we are seeing now is from 40 years ago—that's how long it has taken to reach us here on Earth." He added, "Planets like Gliese 12b are few and far between, so for us to be able to examine one this closely and learn about its atmosphere and temperature is very rare."
A planet’s habitability is based on its potential to develop and maintain environments hospitable to life. Conditions on Earth and the characteristics of the Sun and Solar System, where life can flourish, serve as a benchmark to estimate whether another environment may be considered safe. These environments do not need to contain life to be considered habitable.
