Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Is there life outside the solar system?' that was published in Newsband

Is there life outside the solar system?

Seven Earth-size extra-solar planets, or exoplanets, were found orbiting a dwarf star about 40 light years away. Only Earth has liquid water in the solar system. Less than a year after scientists announced the discovery of three planets orbiting the dwarf star, the team found four more through intense searches.

The dwarf star is much cooler than the Sun. They share a similar formation history with the Galilean moons, which migrated towards Jupiter after formation. Another major difference in comparison with the solar system is the tight packing of the seven planets around the star. With a fair possibility of liquid water being present on at least three planets, the focus is now on deciphering the climate and chemical composition of their atmosphere.

Scientists are keen to know if the planets are Earth-like. The search for extraterrestrial life has just become more focused.

Down on the Earth on which we all live, there are many unresolved problems concerning the humanity, like poverty of millions, diseases, war, terrorism, jingoisms of various types. The possibility of life in a planet or two in 40 light year far away is exciting us. If there is life over there then it would be interesting to know whether they face the same problems as we do and how they go about tackling those problems. One would also be curious to know whether the extra-terrestrials have advanced more than us. Probably the Earthlings are more advanced owing to which we are in a position to detect the extra-terrestrials before they could discover us.

It will be a great achievement for the Earthlings if we succeed in discovering life in another planet. Universe is beautiful and there could be surprises hidden somewhere which man has yet to discover. It is possible that man has yet to solve many more puzzles before he can declare that he has conquered the Universe entirely. There is a need to conduct still more research to know exactly whether there is life in other planet or possibilities of human habitation.