Finding aliens has always been a whim of mankind, with a wide range of pop culture based around the idea of big headed, green humanoids.
It seems unlikely to assume that Earth is the only planet in the entire universe to host life.
But while scientists are always searching for traces of living creatures in our galaxy, we’ve never been close.
Until now!
Scientists have recently discovered an exoplanet in a habitable zone outside the solar system.
It has a gigantic ocean, and the temperatures seem optimal to sustain life.
The potential discovery of liquid water on its surface could forever alter our understanding of the world!
Let’s start with the basic question:
What is the habitable zone?
For that, you need to understand the importance of the distance between a planet and the star it orbits around. This is because that distance decides how much radiation reaches the planet.
Too much radiation means all the water on the surface will evaporate, while too little means it freezes.
For life to exist on any planet, liquid water is crucial.