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New Super-Earth Discovered: Potential for Life 18 Light-Years Away

10/31/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A University of California Irvine team discovered a new super-Earth, GJ 251 c, 18 light-years away, about four Earth masses.
It orbits within the habitable zone of its red-dwarf star, where liquid water could exist.
Co-author Suvrath Mahadevan noted that GJ 251 c is a promising candidate for life, but atmosphere and biosignatures require further observations.
The Astronomical Journal published the findings on October 23, 2025.

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Story summary

A University of California Irvine team discovered a new super-Earth, GJ 251 c, 18 light-years away, about four Earth masses.
It orbits within the habitable zone of its red-dwarf star, where liquid water could exist.
Co-author Suvrath Mahadevan noted that GJ 251 c is a promising candidate for life, but atmosphere and biosignatures require further observations.
The Astronomical Journal published the findings on October 23, 2025.