Planet ‘Super Earth’ discovered near one of the galaxy’s oldest stars



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Discovery of pulsars

British astronomer Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell was the first person to discover a pulsar in 1967 when she spotted a radio pulsar.

Since then, other types of pulsars that emit X-rays and gamma rays have also been spotted.

Pulsars are essentially rotating, highly magnatized neutron stars, but when they were first discovered, it was believed that they may have come from aliens.

‘Sensational!’ radio signal

In 1977, an astronomer searching for alien life in the near skies over Ohio spotted a radio signal so strong that he enthusiastically wrote “Wow! next to its data.

In 1977, an astronomer searching for alien life in the near skies over Ohio spotted a radio signal so strong that he enthusiastically wrote “Wow!  next to his data

In 1977, an astronomer searching for alien life in the near skies over Ohio spotted a radio signal so strong that he enthusiastically wrote “Wow! next to his data

The 72-second explosion, spotted by Dr Jerry Ehman through a radio telescope, was from Sagittarius but did not match any known celestial object.

Conspiracy theorists have since claimed that the “Wow! signal ‘, which was 30 times stronger than the background radiation, was a message from intelligent aliens.

Fossilized Martian microbes

In 1996, NASA and the White House explosively announced that the rock contained traces of Martian insects.

The meteorite, cataloged as Allen Hills (ALH) 84001, crashed into frozen Antarctic waste 13,000 years ago and was recovered in 1984.

Photographs were published showing elongated segmented objects that appeared surprisingly realistic.

Photographs were released showing elongated segmented objects that looked surprisingly realistic (pictured)

Photographs were released showing elongated segmented objects that looked surprisingly realistic (pictured)

However, the excitement did not last long. Other scientists wondered if the meteorite samples were contaminated.

They also argued that the heat generated when rock was thrown into space may have created mineral structures that could be mistaken for microfossils.

Behavior of Tabby’s Star in 2005

The star, also known as KIC 8462852, is located 1,400 light years away and has confused astronomers since its discovery in 2015.

It is darkening at a much faster rate than other stars, which some experts say is a sign of aliens harnessing a star’s energy.

The star, also known as KIC 8462852, is located 1,400 light years away and has confused astronomers since its discovery in 2015 (artist's impression)

The star, also known as KIC 8462852, is located 1,400 light years away and has confused astronomers since its discovery in 2015 (artist’s impression)

Recent studies have “ruled out the possibility of an alien megastructure” and instead suggest that a ring of dust could be the source of the strange signals.

Exoplanets in the Goldilocks zone in 2015

In February of this year, astronomers announced that they had spotted a star system with planets capable of supporting life just 39 light years away.

Seven Earth-like planets have been discovered orbiting the nearby dwarf star ‘Trappist-1’, and all of them may have water on their surfaces, a key building block for life.

Three of the planets are in such good condition that scientists say life may have evolved on them already.

The researchers say they will know whether or not there is life on any of the planets within a decade, and said “this is just the beginning.”

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