Astronomers have identified an atmosphere around LHS 1140 b, a rocky planet in a habitable zone. The discovery, published in Science, marks a turning point in the search for potentially life-supporting worlds.
For the first time, researchers from Harvard University have confirmed the presence of an atmosphere on a rocky exoplanet located within its star’s habitable zone. The planet, LHS 1140 b, orbits a red dwarf 48 light-years from Earth and has become the focus of international attention after observations revealed a distinct helium leak escaping from its upper atmosphere. This breakthrough, detailed in the journal Science, is considered the strongest evidence yet that rocky worlds beyond our solar system can retain atmospheres—an essential condition for life as we know it.
The team’s findings emerged after a series of targeted observations using the Warm Infrared Echelle spectrograph (WINERED) at the Magellan telescope in Chile. During a rare alignment, LHS 1140 b and another planet passed in front of their host star on the same night. While one showed no atmospheric signs, LHS 1140 b displayed a clear signature of helium escaping into space. This detection was not only statistically robust but also matched theoretical predictions that the planet’s atmosphere would be rich in helium.
Until now, thousands of exoplanets have been catalogued, including several rocky candidates in habitable zones. However, confirming the existence of atmospheres around such planets has remained a major challenge. According to the study’s lead author, Collin Cherubim, the discovery marks the first time an atmosphere has been identified on a rocky planet in the habitable zone of another star. The research suggests that LHS 1140 b’s atmosphere has likely survived for over three billion years, making it a prime target for future studies into planetary habitability.
Researchers now aim to determine the full composition of LHS 1140 b’s atmosphere and investigate whether the planet could host liquid water or other features linked to habitability. The team also plans to apply their model to search for similar worlds. The detection method—tracking escaping gases from the ground—could become a vital tool for studying rocky exoplanet atmospheres in the coming years.
According to SINC, the findings open new possibilities for understanding how atmospheres form and persist on planets outside our solar system. The ability to detect atmospheric loss, especially of light elements like helium, provides a window into the long-term evolution of exoplanets. As ground-based telescopes and detection techniques advance, astronomers expect to identify more rocky planets with atmospheres, refining the search for potentially habitable environments beyond Earth. The discovery of LHS 1140 b’s atmosphere not only validates theoretical models but also sets a precedent for future exoplanet research, highlighting the importance of atmospheric studies in the broader quest to find life elsewhere in the universe.
