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Scientists have discovered an Earth-sized planet located about 40 light-years away, in the habitable zone of its star. This planet, named Gliese 12 b, orbits a cool, dim red dwarf star known as Gliese 12. It completes one full orbit in roughly 12.8 days. Although it is closer to its star than Mercury is to the Sun, the planet receives just 1.6 times more energy than Earth does, due to the star’s lower heat output.

Gliese 12 b has a temperature estimated at around 42 degrees Celsius, making it one of the cooler exoplanets discovered in a star’s habitable zone. This zone is where conditions might allow liquid water to exist—an essential ingredient for life as we know it. Because of its close distance to Earth in cosmic terms, it offers a promising target for future studies, including atmospheric analysis using upcoming space telescopes.

What makes Gliese 12 b especially intriguing is its size and environment, similar to Earth and Venus, but around a much smaller and cooler star. Scientists are eager to determine whether it has an atmosphere, which would help understand if it can support life, or if it’s more like Venus, where intense greenhouse effects prevent habitability.

Researchers hope that by comparing planets like Gliese 12 b to Earth and Venus, they can better understand how atmospheres form and evolve, and why some planets become habitable while others do not. The discovery marks an exciting step in the search for potentially life-supporting worlds beyond our solar system.

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