Astronomers claim that at least 45 exoplanets are similar to Earth—from the composition of their atmosphere to the presence of liquid water that can possibly support life.
A team led by astronomers from Luleå University of Technology in Sweden has devised a novel method of testing the habitability, or their capability to support life as we know it, of these exoplanets through an analysis of their atmosphere.
It involves utilizing existing data on atmospheric species—or chemicals in their atmosphere—and how fast these chemicals exit into space. This data allows them to determine an exoplanet's similarity to our own Earth in terms of both chemical composition and average temperature.
To read more, click here.