A water world ruled by octopus-like creatures. A planet divided by light and dark where the sun never rises. These are not descriptions of foreign worlds in science fiction novels, these are some of the'exoplanets' most likely to be harboring aliens right now. Dozens of these exoplanets - planets that orbit stars outside our solar system - which have been classified as'potentially habitable' or'Earth-like' have been documented in tantalizing detail in a new book. Humanity is in a'new golden era of exploration,' according to Dr. Lisa Kaltenegger, whose new book explores what science now knows about how distant worlds in our galaxy could support life.

The field of extrasolar planet studies is undergoing a seismic shift. To date, 4,940 exoplanets have been confirmed in 3,711 planetary systems, with another 8,709 candidates awaiting confirmation. With so many planets available for study and improvements in telescope sensitivity and data analysis, the focus is transitioning from discovery to characterization. Instead of simply looking for more planets, astrobiologists will examine "potentially-habitable" worlds for potential "biosignatures." This refers to the chemical signatures associated with life and biological processes, one of the most important of which is water.

The field of extrasolar planet studies is undergoing a seismic shift. To date, 4,940 exoplanets have been confirmed in 3,711 planetary systems, with another 8,709 candidates awaiting confirmation. With so many planets available for study and improvements in telescope sensitivity and data analysis, the focus is transitioning from discovery to characterization. Instead of simply looking for more planets, astrobiologists will examine "potentially-habitable" worlds for potential "biosignatures." This refers to the chemical signatures associated with life and biological processes, one of the most important of which is water. As the only known solvent that life (as we know it) cannot exist, water is considered the divining rod for finding life.