NASA: Newly Discovered ‘Weird’ Planet with ‘Unknown’ Atmosphere Remarkably Similar to Earth

A ‘weird’ planet has been discovered by scientists in their hunt for extraterrestrial life.

Astronomers from NASA have discovered a new, temperate sub-Neptune-sized exoplanet with a 24-day orbital period orbiting a nearby M dwarf star or otherwise known as a red dwarf.

In the same context, the recent discovery offers exciting research opportunities thanks to the planet's substantial atmosphere, small star, and how fast the system is moving away from the Earth.

In addition to this, the discovery is the latest of many breakthroughs by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the University of New Mexico researchers.

According to NASA, the new planet could help in the search for life elsewhere in the universe.

Although its proximity to Earth and its physical traits make it is ideally suited for a study of its atmosphere by the next generation of space-borne and ground-based telescopes, Knowen as TOI-1231 b, the new planet— is not itself a candidate as a refuge for life as it is cold and freezer, with possible rivers of cold liquid water flowing across its surface.