NASA discovers 10 Earth-like planets that could have life

The US space agency, NASA has found 10 more Earth-like planets outside our solar system that could potentially have liquid water and support life.

NASA released on Monday a survey of 219 potential exoplanets – planets outside of our solar system – that had been detected by its Kepler space telescope between its launch in 2009 through its first four years in space.

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Ten of the new discoveries were orbiting their suns at a distance similar to Earth’s orbit around the sun, the so-called habitable zone – meaning surface temperatures could support liquid water and, hypothetically, life.

That does not mean the planets have life, but some of the most basic requirements that life needs are there.

“Are we alone? Maybe Kepler today has told us indirectly, although we need confirmation, that we are probably not alone,” Kepler scientist Mario Perez said in a news conference.

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