The atmosphere on the planet near the Earth can nourish life

Scientists discovered that the planet GJ 1132b is about the same size as the Earth covered by a thick atmosphere.

Planet GJ 1132b is covered by thick atmosphere.(Artwork: Dana Berry).

The research team at Keele University, England discovered the planet GJ 1132b covered by a thick atmosphere, which can nourish life, Yahoo reported on January 24.

GJ 1132b has the same mass as the Earth, orbiting a M-type red dwarf just 39 light-years from our planet.

Scientists observed when GJ 1132b passed through its star surface. They found that the planet has an atmosphere because it absorbs a small amount of light. In addition, the atmosphere may contain water, the basic element of life.

" This is a step forward in studying the ability to nourish the planet's life ," said John Southworth, who works at Keele University.

According to Scientific American, this finding will open a "new era" in the search for a viable planet.

" The discovery of the atmosphere on the planet gives us hope ," said Julien de Wit, an astronomer working at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA.