I thought the eggheads have been doing this for quite some time now-so it is nothing really to new.

Pretty cool, but not surprising. Someone once told me that space was a pretty big place.

Very significant...but hardly unexpected. Science fiction writers have been presuming the existence of extra-terrestrial planets for a long time. Hard science has verified the Universal presence of Earthly atoms, well beyond our ability to perceive. It's not that these things are popping up everywhere, so how about some props for Man's ability to create the necessary technology to acknowledge, capture and interpret their existence?

So, who do we thank for these discoveries? Besides great new Earth-based telescopes, we can send our cards and letters to NASA and the European Space Agency, who have developed an outer space array called The Great Observatories, which includes the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the Hubble Space Telescope, which is famous for its optical capabilites. There are many things within our visible spectrum that were invisible until this array went active. The most recent discovery was made by the Spitzer, which sees things in the infra-red spectrum. Seems that there is a massive ring that encompasses Saturn, her rings and all of her moons. Only new to us.

One of the concepts that science has tried to get the public interested in is "the zone of life". This is a planet's optimal distance from a star which allows water to exist in its various forms. But, even this concept is beginning to take a lesser place in the hierarchy of importance, as space explorers turn more to Earth science for direction. This began a few decades ago when simple-to-complex life forms were found thriving on the ocean floor...dependent on 400 degree F sulphur vents. This began a search for other life forms called extremophiles...life forms which can exist in extreme conditions. Since then, no less than 17 different species of extremofiles have been discovered on Earth. They range from bacteria and microbes than can live in acid (Acidophile--below a pH of 3), to Alkaliphiles (Ph above 9), to Endoliths, which can live in solid rock!

So, now when explorers search for life, they have an entirely new focus...one that is not limited to looking for planets in the so-called "zone of life". They are looking for various other conditions where they know life can exist. The Spitzer is joining Chandra, which has been focussing on Saturn for the last few years, in the search for these various conditions and are zeroing in on some amazing stuff. Keep your eyes and ears open for news from two of Saturn's moons...Titan and Europa, because they are prime candidates, not only for supporting life, but as refueling stations for future explorers.

Once again, while we may never encounter "Greys" or "Blues", did anyone have any doubts that we would find planets with life out there? Maybe not mind-reading, anal-probing, almond-eyed visitors...but life in any one of its various stages of development. All it will take is for our technology to continue to take on a life of its own.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extremophile

I'm totally unsurprised,but it's nice to know there's a good place to send Anne Coulter.

I find this fascinating. The jump in the numbers of extra-Solar System planets discovered in the last few years has been impressive. As others have said, it becomes increasingly apparent that the uniqueness of our situation in this microscopic corner of the galaxy is non-existant.

What I find interesting about this is that many of these planets are being discovered on stars that are relatively close to Earth here on our corner of the Milky Way. That tells us that planetary systems are a relatively common occurrence in the universe. This also demonstrates that the odds of finding planets orbiting in a "habitable zone" with all the necessary prerequisites for life is not only possible but probably even common.

So far, we've only been able to identify gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, but it's only a matter of time before we discover a planet that potentially harbors life. It's just a question of getting the necessary technology in place to more effectively scan the universe for potential signs of life.

The universe is such a vast place, it really confounds the mind. It's quite humbling, especially since many of us consider our existence here to be the beginning and end of all life in the universe. We're nothing when compared to the vastness of the universe.

The number of planets being discovered outside of our solar system is starting to mushroom. This remarkable find is staggering as mankind struggles with its own survival while dealing with its (very small) place in the universe.

It's a wonderful and important story. . .lost on far too many people. There is nothing so remarkable as to contemplating how limited we are as a species (in terms of really studying these far reaches of the universe) and the discoveries that await us.