The Sky Tonight

April 16, 2014

Continents May Be A Key Feature of Super-Earths
Moffett Field CA (SPX) Apr 16, 2014
Huge Earth-like planets that have both continents and oceans may be better at harboring extraterrestrial life than those that are water-only worlds. A new study gives hope for the possibility that many super-Earth planets orbiting distant stars have exposed continents rather than just water-covered surfaces. Super-Earths likely have more stable climates as compared to water-worlds, and therefore larger habitable zones where alien life could thrive. In the new study, researchers used the Earth as a ... read more

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