We could discover life on new exoplanets within two years, say scientists

We could discover life on new exoplanets within two years, say scientists

Astronomers have identified a new class of habitable planets, dubbed ‘Hycean’ planets (Amanda Smith/University of Cambridge)

Astronomers have discovered a new class of planets which could support life, greatly accelerating the search for life outside our Solar System.

In the search for life elsewhere, researchers have mostly looked for planets of a similar size, mass, temperature and atmospheric composition to Earth.