Scientists hail 'strongest evidence' so far for life beyond our solar system

[Layzeebeaver]

4. The context statements in the article are not clear to say the least.

In the article it states, "K2-18 b, which sits in the Leo constellation, is nearly nine times as massive as the Earth and 2.6 times as large and orbits in the habitable zone of its star, a cool red dwarf less than half the size of the sun."

This leaves much to the imagination...

Where in reality (when you do a bit of searching and thinking...)

1) K2-18 b is an exoplanet in the Leo constellation. It has a radius about 2.6 times that of Earth. It's roughly 9 times its mass.

2) This places it in the sub-Neptune category — likely with a thick atmosphere and not a rocky surface. Maybe a "watery" surface - but not necessarily water.

It orbits within the habitable zone of its host star (a cool red dwarf) that is less than half the size of the Sun.

While this zone could support liquid water under the right conditions, K2-18 b should not be considered "Earth-like".

All that said, It's still really cool that we can detect this data. I like it.