M.J. Rose

 

How long will it be before we find an earth-like planet with actual signs of life? At the rate we’re going, if there is life out there at all, we are going to find it soon…possibly in our lifetime.

 

Scientists: We’re ‘very close’ to finding another Earth

By Suzanne Presto, CNN

 

 

 

(CNN) — Scientists looking for signs of life in the universe — as well as another planet like our own — are a lot closer to their goal than people realize.

 

That was the consensus of a panel on the search for life in the universe held at NASA headquarters Monday in Washington. The discussion focused not only on the philosophical question of whether we’re alone in the universe but also on the technological advances made in an effort to answer that question.

 

 

“We believe we’re very, very close in terms of technology and science to actually finding the other Earth and our chance to find signs of life on another world,” said Sara Seager, a MacArthur Fellow and professor of planetary science and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

 

“Finding Earth’s twin, that’s kind of the holy grail,” said John Grunsfeld, an astronaut who helped repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 2009 and is now an associate administrator at NASA….”

 

For the rest, and some spectacular images, click here.

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