Janice R. Andrews
Researchers utilizing the James Webb Space Telescope have made a ground-breaking discovery: a nearby exoplanet may be the first to be found outside of our solar system to have a liquid ocean that may support life.
The Search for Life and the Goldilocks Zone
Of the more than 5,000 exoplanets found so far, only a small number are found in the “Goldilocks zone”—a region that is just right for liquid water to exist, which is an essential component of life. One of the select handful is the exoplanet LHS 1140 b, which has been the focus of extensive research since its 2017 discovery.
LHS 1140 b is comparatively close by cosmic standards, roughly 48 light-years, or more than 450 trillion kilometers (280 trillion miles), from Earth. Previous observations have cast doubt on the initial theory that this tiny gas giant, sometimes known as the “mini-Neptune,” was unsuited for life because of its thick atmosphere of helium and hydrogen.
A stony Super-Earth
LHS 1140 b is a rocky “super-Earth,” 1.7 times larger than Earth but 5.6 times heavier than Earth, according to new Webb Telescope data. This discovery, which is described in a paper that was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, represents a critical advancement in our knowledge of exoplanets that may be habitable.
It has been vital to examine the planet’s atmosphere as it passes around its star using the Webb Telescope. The lack of helium and hydrogen suggests that the thick, hostile atmosphere that was previously thought to exist does not exist. Rather, the density of the planet points to significant amounts of water.
The Ocean World’s Best Chance
While the oceans make up only 0.02% of Earth’s mass, 10–20% of LHS 1140 b’s mass is thought to be water, according to co-author Martin Turbet of France’s CNRS scientific research institute. This suggests a huge potential for liquid water, yet the planet’s atmospheric conditions determine whether the water is liquid or frozen.
The University of Montreal’s Charles Cadieux, the lead author, noted that LHS 1140 b is unique among temperate exoplanets. “It could well be our best bet to one day indirectly confirm liquid water on the surface of an alien world,” he stated.
Benefiting from its red dwarf star, which is one-fifth the size of our Sun, the exoplanet may experience surface temperatures that are comparable to those of Earth and Mars. If the water is frozen in ice or in liquid form, the presence of gasses such as carbon dioxide will be crucial.
An Eye-Cracking Ocean
One theory is that the planet has a large liquid ocean where it absorbs most of the heat from its star, and that the planet’s surface is mostly made of ice. This fictitious ocean might have a diameter of over 4,000 kilometers, which would be almost half of the Atlantic Ocean’s surface area. Alternatively, the water may be covered by a thick layer of ice, similar to our solar system’s moons Ganymede, Enceladus, or Europa.
Nitrogen, a gas essential to life on Earth, has been suggested by Webb’s instruments, but more investigation is needed to validate this. Researchers are looking forward to future Webb Telescope observations in order to learn more about LHS 1140 b.
Upcoming prospects
It will take a minimum of one year to ascertain the makeup of the exoplanet’s atmosphere, and an additional two to three years will be required to discover carbon dioxide. These discoveries may have a profound effect on our comprehension of possibly livable places outside of our solar system.
LHS 1140 b is still a fascinating target in the hunt for extraterrestrial seas and maybe life, even as scientists continue to refine their theory of extraterrestrial life.
