August 17, 2015

Searching for Earth 2.0

By Dr. Jeff Zweerink

"NASA Finds Earth-like Kepler-452b: Discovery May Help Prove We're Not Alone"

"What's Life like on Kepler-452b? A Little like This, Maybe?"

"NASA Finds 'Earth's Bigger, Older Cousin'"

"Kepler-452b: What It Would Be like to Live on Earth's 'Cousin'"

So read the headlines based on a NASA press release about the most recent "habitable planet" discovery. Here's what really happened:

NASA's press release actually contained more circumspect language in claiming to have "confirmed the first near-Earth-size planet in the 'habitable zone' around a Sun-like star." NASA did label Kepler-452b (the exoplanet under scrutiny) as Earth's bigger, older cousin, but clearly stated that the find represents an important milestone in the journey toward locating another Earth. The discovery of Kepler-452b demonstrates for the first time...

View the complete article here.

Dr. Jeff Zweerink

Jeff Zweerink thought he would follow in his father's footsteps as a chemistry professor until a high school teacher piqued his interest in physics. Jeff pursued a BS in physics and a PhD in astrophysics at Iowa State University (ISU), where he focused his study on gamma rays, messengers from distant black holes and neutron stars.
Read more about Dr. Jeff Zweerink.