Super-Earth spotted in life-friendly zone

Latest exoplanet entry creeps closer to long-sought goal of habitability elsewhere

Inching ever closer toward the goal of finding another Earth, scientists have announced the most promising extraterrestrial incubator so far: a planet of at least 4.5 Earth masses, orbiting its star in the region where liquid water can stably exist.

SUPER-EARTH Though GJ 667Cc (second from left) is the latest addition to a list of life-friendly exoplanets, it’s also the most promising.