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https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/jul/16/atmosphere-lhs-1140b-exoplanet-could-water-scientists>
"The search for life outside our solar system has taken another twist as
researchers revealed they have discovered an atmosphere around an Earth-like
planet 49 light years away that could have liquid water on its surface.
Atmospheres have previously been found around gas giant exoplanets as well as
“sub-Neptunes”. There have also been signs of such envelopes around rocky
exoplanets that sit outside their star’s habitable zone – a region in which
liquid water could exist on the planet’s surface, and hence potentially support
life.
But the new discovery is different.
“This is the first actually observationally confirmed atmosphere on a rocky
planet in the habitable zone outside of our solar system,” said Dr Collin
Cherubim, the first author of the study, who until recently was based at
Harvard University.
The findings, he added, also marked the first direct identification of an
atmospheric species for any rocky exoplanet, whether in a habitable zone or
not.
“This is a really exciting discovery because I think it really puts LHS 1140b
at the forefront as the best, most promising, exciting laboratory for studying
astrobiology and habitability outside of our solar system,” he said.
The planet, LHS 1140b, has a mass 5.6 times that of Earth and its radius is 70%
larger. While Cherubim noted it was similar to Earth in some ways – such as its
overall composition and temperature – it differs in others: for example it is
tidally locked, could have far more water, and probably has a very different
atmosphere.
Discovered in 2017, it is relatively nearby and orbits a small red dwarf in the
constellation of Cetus, the sea monster. This star is smaller and dimmer than
our own sun but releases a greater proportion of its energy as ionising
radiation.
Cherubim said as a result of the new study we now know LHS 1140b has all the
ingredients for a habitable environment: a relatively rocky planet, a
temperature that supports liquid water, and an atmosphere to prevent the water
from escaping and to shield the planet’s surface from harmful radiation. In
addition the star itself is quiet with few flares.
“So it’s a really exciting place to keep looking, especially to look for signs
of life,” he said.
The team said no atmosphere was found around LHS 1140c – another rocky planet
that orbits the same star."
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*** Xanni ***
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mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
