How a discovery that earned the Nobel Prize in Physics transformed the hunt for alien life – NBC News

Because that 1995 discovery, more than 4,100 extra exoplanets have been discovered. Initial price quotes recommend that about 1 in 5 star systems includes a planet that is something like Earth. The useful result of finding lots of planets has been to move SETI efforts from looking at a certain type of star system to just looking at the nearest ones.

Since that 1995 discovery,

more than 4,100 additional exoplanets have been found. Preliminary quotes suggest that about 1 in 5 star systems consists of a world that is something like Earth. The exoplanet discoveries have broadened the options for scientists and relieved their individual anxieties because they finally can be certain that planets are abundant. And since 75 percent of all stars take place to be red dwarfs (only 8 percent are similar to the sun), this is like all of a sudden finding out that there are 10 times as numerous dining establishments in your area as you as soon as thought. The practical outcome of discovering lots of worlds has been to move SETI efforts from looking at a certain type of star system to just looking at the closest ones.

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