Bill Borucki, Kepler chief scientist at NASA’s Research Center in Mountain View, California, reports the outcomes for the first four months of an operation in which he reveals the discovery of 1,235 possible planets, 54 that could feasibly support life. Their results are based on the observations of bright stars monitored by NASA’s Kepler spacecraft. Out of the 54 plants that could potentially hold life, five of them are just about the size of Earth whereas the rest are larger. Some of the moons they’ve located may possibly hold water and therefore life. The finding of these planets is based on discovery science and brings us closer to learning where else there may be life. Now in 2011 the question no longer seems to be whether we’re alone in the universe or not, but where are the other life forms?
A thousand-plus worlds to explore by Ron Cowen
February 26, 2011 pg. 18
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