Nearby planet may have liquid oceans, boosting chances of alien life

A potentially habitable planet outside the solar system is suspected of containing at least one ocean, finds new research out of France.

The study centers around Proxima b, an exoplanet whose existence was confirmed in August.

The discovery was particularly intriguing for scientists because the body is believed to orbit its star, Proxima Centauri, in the habitable zone which means that it is neither too hot nor too cold for the presence of liquid water.

Images of the exoplanet:

For the most recently published study, the team from France used simulations to determine that Proxima b could have a radius of at least 3,700 miles with a dense composition and low proportion of surface water.

As such, they concluded that the planet would likely have one liquid ocean with a depth of about 124 miles.

Despite their belief that it could be habitable, other astronomers remain uncertain; some think the conditions may have been too hot to sustain life based on models showing that Proxima Centauri used to be brighter.

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