One in four of the planetary systems identified to date outside the Solar System are capable of harbouring other Earths, say astrophysicists, a much higher proportion than anyone expected.



The researchers decided the race to detect an extrasolar Earth-like planet is taking too long. So, instead of scanning the skies, they modelled all the planetary systems known so far to work out which could be hiding habitable planets.



Since 1995, astronomers have unveiled dozens of planets orbiting nearby Sun-like stars. Current methods can only detect gas giants like Jupiter but life, at least in the form that we know it, can only get started on a solid surface where water can pool.
More here.