2 Billion Alien Earths Could Exist In Our Galaxy

Our galaxy might be a bit more crowded than we've ever thought.

A new study by the scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA suggests that one out of every 37 to one out of every 70 sun-like stars may have an Earth-like planet in its orbit, according to Space.com. These planets are at such a position that liquid water could exist on the planet's surface, according to the researchers.

That means there could be billions of Earth-like planets just in the Milky Way Galaxy.

In February, the Kepler telescope identified 1,200 possible alien worlds, 68 of which were about the size of Earth. The new data, again collected by the Kepler telescope, suggests that 1.4 percent to 2.7 percent of all stars in the galaxy could be expected to have Earth-like planets in the appropriate zones, according to UPI.

But there may be even more life out there, in other galaxies.

From Space.com:

"This means there are a lot of Earth analogs out there -- two billion in the Milky Way galaxy," researcher Joseph Catanzarite, an astronomer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told SPACE.com. "With that large a number, there's a good chance life and maybe even intelligent life might exist on some of those planets. And that's just our galaxy alone -- there are 50 billion other galaxies."

The same scientists predict that about 12 Earth-like worlds will be discovered after three to four years of Kepler data is analyzed, according to Space. Four have already been seen in the few months of data already released.

Comments

[PareshB]

12:37 AM on 05/02/2011

Looking at the comments here and discussions elsewhere on subjects like these, I don't understand why people become insecure at the prospects of life else where.
Many bring the question of God and religion into the mix.
In my mind God and religion and science are two separate subjects.
The purpose of religion is to provide guidance for living our life and our civilization.
Why can't we believe that God created the atoms and molecules and everything got created from that.
Even if one believes that God created Earth and life only exists on Earth, is one saying that God does not have the capability to create life else where?

[Ronnie Avatar Dixon]

02:43 PM on 04/02/2011

I wonder if the lifeforms on these planets have their own gods? This pretty much debunks the whole "the odds of the Earth forming and having life are so small, that Goddunit'" argument. That and prior common sense and an understanding of causation. lolz

[MikeyJaii]

09:01 PM on 03/31/2011

If they are any thing like man, there're doomed.

[Tazirai]

06:49 PM on 03/28/2011

Hopefully once we discover actual alien life in our lifetime, they wont have Democrats and Republicans. They'll be beyond superstitious nonsense, and be immune to Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Randy Quaid.

[JaxReader]

02:09 PM on 03/28/2011

The greatest evidence for intelligent alien life, is precisely that we have not been contacted.

[Chlowina]

10:50 AM on 03/28/2011

Hope they don't have lobbyists.

[absolument]

02:49 PM on 03/28/2011

Don't worry. If they have, they'll never master space travel.

[L3p3rm3ss14h]

03:30 PM on 03/27/2011

This reminds me of a headline I saw on The Onion a while ago...

"Google Earth to begin displaying Earth as an insignificant speck in an uncaring void."

[sunsetter]

08:19 AM on 03/27/2011

Interesting, and if true, I will bet they do not have an inhabitant like Obama.

[Jenna Bean]

08:58 AM on 03/28/2011

oh my god....................you people are so embarrassing!

[TheNewShadeofBlue]

10:16 AM on 03/28/2011

No not an inhabitant, but billions and billions of Obamas. He is just one of many sent here to conquer you!!!

[oceanye]

06:45 AM on 03/26/2011

But what about religion? Did God create them all at the same time?

[Aleks Hunter]

02:25 PM on 03/26/2011

Why would it matter to us, the timing of the creation of worlds we cannot reach?

[JaxReader]

01:44 PM on 03/28/2011

Can't reach.... yet.

[JaxReader]

01:45 PM on 03/28/2011

Which religions?

[nhfarmer]

02:40 AM on 03/26/2011

Imagine hypothetically that the following extraterrestrial message is decoded:
"99% of the intelligent species in the galaxy that undergo an Industrial Revolution are extinct within 1000 years of their Industrial Revolution. 99.9% are extinct within 10,000 years."
I wonder if humans could clean up their act after learning this.

[oceanye]

06:41 AM on 03/26/2011

bbbut - what's that got to do with NOW? The now group-the group that thinks only of themselves don't want this. They are more than 90% repugs, and they CONTROL the world. See the problem?

[LintLass]

07:16 AM on 03/28/2011

People tend to overestimate how like humans other intelligent species would have to be, but I tend to think if you make it through the first thousand years, you've probably figured it out. :)

[rodjard]

12:56 AM on 03/26/2011

Before we go forward we need to catch up with ourselves.
We have proven in just the past two years that we are
totally inept in every instance of providing safe stable
sources of energy for ourselves. We are completely divided
in our political and religious ideologies. There needs to be
maturity of consensus in these things before we embark on
more things unknown to us. The first thing me must do is
realize and admit how really dumb the smartest of us are
before we can move forward.

[jmc888]

03:06 AM on 03/26/2011

That's pure sophistry
Totally not a reason to become hillbillies

[rodjard]

04:58 AM on 03/26/2011

And I am sure you are well versed in all that
makes you 'better.' Exactly my point.

[absolument]

03:03 PM on 03/28/2011

I think it makes a lot more sense for the dumbest to admit how dumb they are.

[ChicagoBlackRainbowWomen]

12:34 AM on 03/26/2011

I suppose if we were blessed enough to find other earthlike planets and aquired the know how to get there, we'd go there and F*** it up to.

[Aleks Hunter]

02:26 PM on 03/26/2011

Perhaps we're stupid for a reason?

[Todd12345]

12:16 AM on 03/26/2011

can we potentially go there in a life time or benifit in knowing only that the possibility exists , If not quit wasting tax dollars and do somthing with our money that matters pullezz!

[Areyoukiddingg]

10:50 PM on 03/25/2011

As one who has experienced "crossing over", I surmise there are indeed many planets suitable for some form of intelligent life similar to humans. When I popped out of my body (and luckily came back), I sensed there was a LOT out there, and I had the ability to visit any one of them. Not just more "Earths" but additional dimensions. Sort of like tuning a radio with a lot of different bands & frequencies. The universe is stranger than we can even imagine. We're just seeing a speck of the big picture.

[TheNewShadeofBlue]

10:34 AM on 03/28/2011

HUH...sounds like new age hippie talk coupled with wacky weed abuse while listening to that Enema Man and Snoopy Dip Doo!!!

[jjsardo]

06:55 PM on 03/25/2011

Are they hiring?