NASA’s Hubble Find Close Rocky Planet With ‘Tantalizing Parallels To Earth’—And It’s Coming Back From The Dead

This image is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet GJ 1132 b. For the first time, scientists using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have found evidence of volcanic activity reforming the atmosphere on this rocky planet, which has a similar density, size, and age to that of Earth. — This image is an artist’s impression of the exoplanet GJ 1132 b. For the first time, scientists … [+] using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have found evidence of volcanic activity reforming the atmosphere on this rocky planet, which has a similar density, size, and age to that of Earth.

NASA, ESA, and R. Hurt (IPAC/Caltech)

Can planets that become uninhabitable later become habitable again? After being stripped to its core by the intense heat of its star, an exoplanet 41 light-years distant is showing signs of gaining a second atmosphere—through volcanic activity.

Called GJ 1132 b, the planet was studied by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope for a paper to be published soon in The Astronomical Journal.

Said to have tantalizing parallels to Earth, here’s everything you need to know about GJ 1132 b‚ a once-watery planet with a similar density, size, and age to Earth.