Cornell Identifies 45 Rocky Exoplanets for Life Search

Astronomers at Cornell University's Carl Sagan Institute have identified 45 rocky exoplanets as the most promising targets in the search for extraterrestrial life, narrowing a catalog of more than 6,000 known worlds to those orbiting within their stars' habitable zones. The study, published on March 19, 2026, in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, provides a prioritized list to guide observations with advanced telescopes.

Led by Professor Lisa Kaltenegger, the research team analyzed data from the European Space Agency's Gaia mission and NASA's Exoplanet Archive to assess stellar energy received by each planet. They focused on rocky worlds no larger than about twice Earth's radius, positioned in regions where surface temperatures could support liquid water, a key factor for life as understood on Earth. The habitable zone, often called the Goldilocks zone, avoids extremes that would cause water to boil away or freeze solid.

The selection process emphasized not only Earth-like conditions but also boundary cases to test habitability limits. Planets near the inner edge of the zone might experience runaway greenhouse effects, similar to Venus, while those on the...