Our Earth is an incredible thing. It took just the right set of circumstances to enable this world to form and support life. It is not out of the question, however, for there to be other planets like ours. In fact, NASA’s Kepler mission recently discovered an Earth-like planet that could have water on its surface. This new planet, called Kepler 186f, is only 500 light years away from Earth. What does this mean for humanity?
Scientific Exploration is Good for the Soul
Exploring the universe is good for humanity. It soothes our basic need to know what else is out there. We are all born curious, and space is one of the only things left to explore. The discovery of an Earth-like planet piques the curiosity of everyone. This is because it holds so many possibilities. It fuels science fiction novels and passionate arguments about space travel. It encourages innovation in many scientific areas as we create new ways to look at things in order to discover more. There is no one that isn’t touched by the desire to know what is out there waiting for us.
Possible Life on Other Planets
Kepler 186f calls out to us because we want to know if we are alone in the universe or not. The fact that this planet is not only in the “habitable zone,” but may also have liquid water on the surface means there is a greater chance of discovering life on a planet other than our own. This is something people have been waiting for since we realized there were other planets. The prospect of finding extra-terrestrial life is thrilling. Knowing for sure if we are alone in the universe would be an incredibly important discovery that could affect everything we think and feel about what it means to be alive.
Our universe is a huge and ever-growing place. There is no telling how many planets there are out there that could support life. The discovery of an Earth-like planet so close to home can mean incredible things for humanity now and for the future of our world.
