They're Here!

Summary: Ten Billion Earth-Like Planets May Exist in Our Galaxy!

Source: http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/03/ten-billion-earths/


Why It's A Mind Blow: We've known there are planets outside our solar system for a while now, but the true scale of planetary proliferation is only now coming into view. Using statistical extrapolation of available data, scientists have determined that exo-planets, and what's more, other Earth-like worlds are most likely everywhere. Add that to what we're learning about the resilient and hearty nature of life on our world, and a picture begins to take shape.

Life exists in the most unbelievable places on planet Earth; in the absence of light, in crazy hot temperatures, even deep in the Earth's crust. Life continues to prove it's ability to slip into the cracks of creation, and with this new and compelling evidence of Earth-like worlds dotting the heavens in numbers we can't comprehend, is there really any question about what's out there?

So what's next? Well, now we have to find it! On that front, here's more good news. Even if life doesn't thrive under the ice of Saturn's moons (which it probably does, based on where we find it here on Earth), there is still a good chance we'll be able to "see" life outside our solar system, and in our lifetime! Telescopes are on the drawing board that might be able to interpret the atmospheric content of distant worlds, and they could reveal the telltale signs of life.

So get ready! ET is out there, and although the smart ones may be too far away to reach, there is a good chance that you and I will have real, verifiable evidence of life in the universe before we leave its ranks!