New Planet Discovered

Our galaxy, for those who don't know, contains roughly 100 billion stars (this is a conservative estimate, many sources put that number at closer to 300 billion). Around these 100 billion stars are even more planets, probably upward or close too a trillion. Now of that trillion it is estimated that around 200 billion planets sit within the "goldilocks zone" of their solar system, the "goldilocks zone" being a term coined to mean the band around the sun wherein the conditions are just right for life to exist (termed goldilocks because the conditions are "just right"- conclusive proof that scientists don't have a sense of humour).

 That means that life is likely to exist on 200 billion other planets within our galaxy alone, the reason why I'm telling you all this? So that you will suspend your disbelief when I tell you that scientists have discovered the exo-skeleton of a planet that is very much like Earth.
 

Pictured: What the planet almost certainly doesn't look like.

Before today precisely zero potentially earth-like planets have been discovered (with the slight exception of gliese 581c), hence why there is so much excitement surrounding the finding of this new planet, dubbed gliese 581g.

It differs from Earth in several ways though, most majorly its average temperatures are believed to range from between -12C and -31C; and the fact that unlike Earth, this alien world has one side always facing its sun and the other side constantly in the dark. This means that in-between the two sides, between shadow and light, there could be an area where life could potentially thrive.

In all honesty I would find it hard to believe that there isn't life on gliese 581g, if the planet has an atmosphere similar to ours and if it has been around for the last few billion years as scientists believe then life will almost certainly exist there, albeit most likely in a much different state to how it would be on Earth.

The planet lies 20 lightyears away, a relatively small distance comparative to our galaxy, it is therefore estimated that it would take a man-made craft travelling at 50,000km/hr a mere 20,000 years to reach the planet. So no chance of meeting any extra-terrestrials in our lifetime then D:

On second thoughts maybe that's not such a bad thing

If you'd like to know more then please visit the links below.

Links for more Information:
http://www.nbc.com/news-sports/msnbc-video/astronomers-discover-a-new-earth/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11444022
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/090219-explanets-life.html

Stephen Hawking's Universe

Stephen Hawking's Universe is currently halfway through it's series and seems to be passing the general public by, which I think is a great shame as it is without doubt one of the most interesting series to come out on TV recently. Hawking, generally acknowledged to be one othe most intelligent men in the world, has decided to confront a series of questions that are generally seen as unanswerable, and in each episode he answers them.

The questions Hawking addresses such as time travel and life in the universe are old ones, but his logic and sense of humour are flawless and he is an engrossing man to watch. With impressive visuals, Hawking begins to unravel the problems that surround these questions and slowly begins to build his theory throughout the episode, all whilst introducing interesting concepts and discussing past ideas.

In a time when Jersey Shore is seen as a good way to kill a few hours, I find it dismaying that people won't spare 40 minutes of their time to open their eyes to the scientific wonders of the universe around them.

I hope that all of you reading this will find time to watch the marvellous Stephen Hawking and his show which I've linked here: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/stephen-hawkings-universe/4od#3123482

By the way if you have any subjects or ideas that you'd like me to talk about, do write in the comments section below!