Scientists discover ‘super-Earth’ planet that may be suitable for life

Researchers analysed two decades of observations to confirm the discovery of planet HD 20794 d. Picture: Gabriel Perez Diaz, SMM (IAC)/PA

Scientists have discovered a “super-Earth” planet that may have conditions suitable for life, according to the University of Oxford.

The exoplanet – a planet outside our solar system – has a mass six times greater than that of Earth, and orbits in the “habitable zone” of a nearby star similar to our sun 20 light-years away from our solar system.