Scientists have always battled with the thought, "Are we actually alone?" From bizarre alien theories to mole people who apparently have been living under the surface of the Earth for centuries, every science enthusiast has played with some sort of theory. However, it seems like now these theories might be coming to life.
Japan's Astronomers Claim Discovery Of An 'Earth-Like' Planet In Our Solar System
No, there had been no headway in digging out evidence of the mole people, but scientists have gotten intel on a secret planet that might be hidden in our solar system and even have uncanny similarities to Earth.
Last month, Japanese astronomers unveiled their theory concerning an "Earth-like planet" they've dubbed "Planet Nine," which they propose is discreetly concealed just a few billion miles beyond Neptune.
This groundbreaking research was published in the Astronomical Journal and conducted by Patryk Sofia Lykawka from Kindai University in Japan and Takashi Ito from Japan's National Astronomical Observatory. The scientists delved deep into the Kuiper Belt in their quest to uncover clues pointing to the presence of this mysterious planetary body.
So, what is the Kuiper Belt?
It is an expansive ring encircling the sun, consisting of a multitude of interstellar objects.
These objects include dwarf planets, asteroids, carbon-rich bodies, and volatile elements like methane and ammonia. Situated immediately beyond the orbit of Neptune, this celestial repository orbits the sun much like other constituents within our solar system.
The discoveries made by Lykawka and Ito indicate the presence of another notable body within the Kuiper Belt that humans should be paying attention to. This object exhibits "unusual" characteristics, including the ability to exert gravitational influence on other objects, which means it could be considered a planetary candidate.
According to Earth.com, the astronomers wrote in their report, "We predict the existence of an Earth-like planet. It is plausible that a primordial planetary body could survive in the distant Kuiper Belt as a Kuiper Belt planet, as many such bodies existed in the early solar system."
While some astronomers doubt that this planet exists, this new study is not the first to suggest there might be a ninth planet in our cosmic neighbourhood.
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