Study Cuts GJ 3378 b Mass to 2.3 Earths, Boosting Life Prospects 25 Light-Years Away
Updated
Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 10
Study Cuts GJ 3378 b Mass to 2.3 Earths, Boosting Life Prospects 25 Light-Years Away
1 articles · Updated · The Jerusalem Post · Jul 10
Summary
UC Irvine-led researchers recalculated GJ 3378 b at 2.3 times Earth’s mass, down from 5, making the nearby super-Earth a stronger candidate for habitability.
The new estimate suggests a rocky composition and potentially Earth-like atmospheric pressure, while the planet appears to sit in the habitable zone with temperatures near 0 C and 91% of Earth’s solar energy.
Scientists still have no direct evidence of an atmosphere or liquid water on GJ 3378 b, and stellar winds may already have stripped any atmosphere away.
At 25 light-years from Earth, the planet is close enough for follow-up study, with NASA’s Habitable Worlds Observatory in the 2040s expected to test whether it has an atmosphere and possible biosignatures.
If our best telescope can't check for an atmosphere, how can we truly know if this nearby planet is habitable?
Could this super-Earth's own star have already destroyed its chances for life with violent stellar winds?
Breakthrough on GJ 3378 b: From Mini-Neptune to Rocky Super-Earth in the Habitable Zone
Overview
A major breakthrough in June 2026 has transformed our understanding of the exoplanet GJ 3378 b. Scientists published new findings that re-evaluated the planet’s mass and orbital period, leading to a fundamental shift in previous assumptions. This updated data requires a complete reassessment of GJ 3378 b, especially regarding its potential to support life. The revised properties now directly affect how researchers calculate the planet’s composition, internal structure, and atmosphere. As a result, GJ 3378 b’s status as a candidate for habitability is being reconsidered, opening new directions for future research.