NASA announces the discovery of an Earth-like planet.

(Baonghean.vn) - Humans have always strived to prove that they are not the only living beings in the universe. With the development of science and technology, the hope of finding life in space is becoming increasingly less distant, especially after NASA's announcement of the discovery of an Earth-like planet through the Kepler telescope.

The planet Kepler 452b has a diameter about 60% larger than that of Earth. (Image: NASA)

In a press conference on July 23, NASA scientists announced that the newly discovered planet, named Kepler 452b, is about 60% larger than Earth and orbits a Sun-like star approximately 6 billion years old. Kepler 452b is located about 1,400 light-years from Earth and is in the Cygnus constellation.

Astronomers estimate that Kepler 452b orbits its star in 385 days, and its distance from the star is only about 5% greater than the distance from Earth to the Sun. It is highly likely that Kepler 452b is rocky with a thick atmosphere and contains a significant amount of water. Volcanic activity may also be present on the surface of Kepler 452b.

With this discovery, John Grunsfeld, NASA's Deputy Administrator, hopes this will be a "version of Earth 2.0." Even Jon Jenkins, head of data analysis for NASA's Kepler, believes that life on Kepler 452b appeared even earlier than on Earth, as all the necessary conditions for life already exist on that planet.

Furthermore, through observing the planet Kepler 452b and the stars orbiting it, Doug Caldwell – an astronomer at the Institute for Extraterrestrial Civilizations Research – believes this will provide humanity with ideas about what might happen to Earth in the distant future. Especially since scientists have discovered that the stars orbiting Kepler 452b are 1.5 billion years larger than the Sun. Doug Caldwell predicts that what Kepler 452b is experiencing could be what Earth will face in over a billion years, as the Sun ages and becomes even brighter.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde)