First atmosphere found on Earth-like planet in habitable zone of distant star

Researchers have discovered the first atmosphere around an Earth-like, rocky planet, LHS 1140b, located in the habitable zone of a distant red star 48 light-years away. The detected gas is helium, which cannot support life, but the finding is considered a major step toward potentially identifying worlds with conditions suitable for life. The authors emphasize that no life has been found, but this is the strongest evidence yet of a rocky planet with an atmosphere in a star's habitable zone.