What Planets Outside Our Solar System Can Tell Us About Life on Earth

Is there life on planets other than Earth? For generations, scientists have puzzled over the question, searching for planets that might have the right conditions both inside and outside the Milky Way. There are thousands of exoplanets – those beyond our solar system – ranging from gas giants, to balls of rock, to possible ocean worlds and so-called “super Earths.” But even as new technology has given scientists a glimpse at these distant worlds, one lingering question is whether any of them can support life and what forms it might take. WSJ’s Danny Lewis speaks to University of Arizona astronomer Chris Impey about what makes a planet habitable and how learning about exoplanets can teach us more about our own world.

What do you think about the show? Let us know on Spotify, or email us: [email protected] 

Further reading: 

​​A Moon of Saturn Has All the Ingredients Needed for Life 

Jupiter Mission Launches on Journey to Explore Icy Worlds 

Astronomers Catch a Star Swallowing a Planet 

These Scientists Want to Send Space Aliens a Cosmic Road Map to Earth

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices