Scientist: ET life signs to be spotted in 2 decades
2007-04-26 09:16:32
Adjust font size:
Steven Spielberg's sci-fi movie "E.T."
(File Photo)
April 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Scientists are less than two decades away from being
able to detect real signs of extraterrestrial life, Swiss scientist Michel
Mayor was quoted by media reports as saying Thursday.
Mayor, leader of a European team that
announced the discovery of the most Earth-like planet yet, now has his
sights set on the even bigger target.
"Personally, I feel comfortable with the idea of life
existing elsewhere," said the scientist of Switzerland's University of Geneva to
the media.
But Mayor also admitted that as a scientist, he was
unsure whether other life forms are present in our universe.
"There's only one thing we can do. We can do science,
we can do experiments. We have the methodology, the ability to do this simply on
science, so let's do it," the 65-year-old said.
Mayor was credited in 1995 with co-finding the first
planets outside our solar system.
European astronomers Tuesday announced that they have
spotted the most Earth-like planet yet outside our solar system, with balmy
temperatures that could support water and life.
The discovery of the new planet is described as a big step
in the search for life in the universe. But researchers do not yet know if the
planet contains water, if it is truly rocky like Earth, or whether it is
blanketed by a thick atmosphere.
(Agencies)
Related:
Astronomers find "second
Earth" (Related) Astronomers find "second
Earth"
BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhuanet) -- European astronomers
announced they have discovered the smallest and potentially most Earth-like
planet yet outside the solar system, according to media reports Wednesday.
Fives times as massive as Earth, it orbits a relatively cool star at a distance that would provide earthly temperatures as well, signaling the possibility of liquid water and, potentially, life.
[1] (Related) [2] (Related) [3] (Related) [4] (Related)
Wang Yan
Tools:Print (Related) |E-mail Us (Related) |Most Popular (Related) Related StoriesHome (Related) HomeSci/Tech (Related) Sci/Tech Back to Top Back to Top
No comments:
Post a Comment