Astronomers in Europe and the United States have found two new planets about 20 times the size of Earth beyond the solar system.
The discovery might be a giant leap forward in the search for Earth-like planets capable of harboring life.
Previous planets found around living stars other than the Sun have been giants like Jupiter or Saturn, at least 50 times the mass of Earth, composed of gas at crushing pressures and scorchingly high temperatures and unlikely abodes for life.
(CRI September 2, 2004)
