Astronomers detect first atmosphere on rocky exoplanet LHS 1140 b inside habitable zone
Astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics detected an atmosphere around LHS 1140 b, a rocky super-Earth 48 light-years away, the first confirmed atmosphere on a rocky planet in a habitable zone. It appears to have survived over 3 billion years. Published in S
Astronomers led by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics have detected an atmosphere around LHS 1140 b, a rocky super-Earth located about 48 light-years from Earth. It is the first confirmed atmosphere found on a rocky planet orbiting inside another star's habitable zone. The research team identified helium escaping from the planet's atmosphere, a signature that allowed them to confirm its presence. According to the researchers, the atmosphere appears to have survived for more than 3 billion years, despite the planet's close orbit around its red dwarf star. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Science on July 16, 2026. The discovery matters because a surviving atmosphere is a precondition for any habitable-zone planet to support liquid water or, potentially, life. LHS 1140 b now stands as one of the most promising known targets for follow-up observations searching for biosignatures beyond our solar system. Source: Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, published in Science