Billions of Earth-Like Planets in Galaxy: Scientist
We're not alone in the universe, an expert says
By CAITLIN MILLAT
Updated 12:30 PM EDT, Sun, Feb 15, 2009
E.T. and Wall-E might have more friends out there.
There could be more than one hundred billion Earth-like planets in our galaxy, many which are capable of sustaining life, experts say.
Dr. Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution of Science told audience members at a conference yesterday that these worlds exist but have not yet been detected by telescope.
Boss said that each Sun-like star in the universe has at least one Earth-type planet and could be inhabited by bacterial lifeforms similar to humans from billions of years ago, the BBC reports.
"Not only are they probably habitable, but they probably are also going to be inhabited," Boss said.
NASA missions should begin to see the planets in the next few years thanks to increased technological capabilities, Boss said.
First Published: Feb 15, 2009 12:00 PM EDT
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