Pulses to Find Planets
A new ultrafast laser could increase the sensitivity of astronomical tools searching for Earth-like planets by as much as 100 fold. The new technology could be a major advancement in the search for habitable extrasolar worlds.

Catching the Glint of Water
Using an optical space telescope and a mathematical method, astronomers are hoping to find Earth-like watery worlds around distant stars. Their technique may one day help astrobiologists discover another planet suitable for life as we know it.

Intelligence: A Rare Cosmic Commodity
A mathematical model taking into account the limited habitable lifespan of the Earth suggests that four evolutionary steps were required for intelligent life to evolve. If this applies to other worlds, intelligent life may be rare in the universe.

Earth-like Planet Found in Leo
Scientists have discovered a potentially Earth-like planet around a star 30 light years away. At a size five times larger than Earth, it is the smallest extrasolar planet yet discovered.

Astro-combing for Planets
A revolutionary laser technology will enable scientists to spot Earth-sized worlds in Earth-like orbits around distant stars. The new technology is a major step forward in the search for habitable planets.

Googling Alien Life
Scientists are designing a satellite-based observatory that could provide a sensitive survey of the entire sky to search for planets. The team hopes that the system could rapidly discover Earth-like planets.

Organics Found on Alien World
Hubble has made the first detection of an organic molecule in an extrasolar planet. The breakthrough is an important step toward identifying signs of life on a planet outside our Solar System.

Grains of Sand Grow Into Planets
Astronomers have found small, sandy particles orbiting a newborn solar system at about the same distance as the Earth orbits the Sun. Their report could shed new light on how distant, Earth-like planets might form.

From Gas to Planets
Astronomers have discovered large amounts of organic gases and water vapor in a possible planet-forming region around a distant star. The findings provide a better view of early planet formation and could aid in the search for habitable extrasolar planets.

Watching Alpha Centauri
Scientists have determined that one of the Solar System's closest stellar neighbors, Alpha Centauri, should harbor Earth-like planets. Knowing where to look for rocky planets is the first step in searching for habitable worlds around distant stars.