Data surprises scientists: Super-Earth may be more habitable than thought

Scientists are reassessing the habitability of the super-Earth exoplanet GJ 3378 b, located a mere 25 light-years from our solar system. Newly analyzed data suggests this celestial body, orbiting a cool red dwarf star, might offer more favorable conditions for life than initially believed. The planet resides within its star's habitable zone, the region where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist on its surface, a key ingredient for life as we know it.

Previous estimates placed GJ 3378 b's mass at approximately five times that of Earth. However, recent measurements using the Habitable-zone Planet Finder instrument on the Hobby-Eberly Telescope have revised this figure significantly downward. The planet's mass is now estimated to be only 2.3 times that of Earth, with a radius of about 1.32 Earth radii. This lower mass strengthens the possibility that GJ 3378 b is a rocky planet, rather than a gas-dominated one, further enhancing its potential for habitability.

Further refinements to the planet's orbital characteristics were also made, adjusting its orbital period from 24 days to 21 days. This closer proximity to its star means GJ 3378 b receives more radiation, raising questions about whether it has retained its atmosphere. Despite this uncertainty, the planet's relative closeness to Earth makes it a prime target for future observational technologies. Extremely large telescopes, such as the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) in Chile, which is partly being built with Polish involvement, may eventually be able to directly photograph GJ 3378 b and study its environment in unprecedented detail.