About this episode

The episode discusses the discovery of an atmosphere on the exoplanet LHS 1140b and sugar molecules found in interstellar space.

Episode 387 Two big interstellar discoveries have hit the headlines. One is the discovery of the first atmosphere ever found on a small, rocky exoplanet that could host alien life. The planet LHS 1140b is about 50 light years from Earth and sits in the “Goldlocks” zone, meaning it’s close enough to its star to be habitable. So what do we know about its atmosphere – and could it be just like Earth? The second story is of sugar molecules discovered in interstellar space for the first time – detected in a cosmic cloud nearly 27 light years away. Researchers believe this sugar could have formed before the solar system itself. Find out more with Senior Editor Chelsea Whyte and Space Reporter Leah Crane. To read more about these stories, visit https://www.newscientist.com/ Image credits: Chester Harman, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons ESO/spaceengine.org, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 via Wikimedia Commons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Chelsea Whyte

Guest: Leah Crane

Topics covered

• exoplanets
• alien life
• interstellar discoveries
• atmosphere
• sugar molecules
• space research

Keywords

• LHS 1140b
• alien life
• exoplanet atmosphere
• sugar molecules
• interstellar space
• Goldlocks zone
• space research

Mentioned in this episode

Places: LHS 1140b, Earth, interstellar space, solar system, Goldlocks zone

More episodes of The World, the Universe and Us

• Climate Crisis Is Triggering Global Food Shortages - New Predictions Are Devastating · July 16, 2026 · 20 min
• 7 Essential Lessons We Can Learn From Homer’s Odyssey · July 12, 2026 · 32 min
• Chris Packham on the Untold Story of Evolution · July 9, 2026 · 28 min
• Heatwaves Are Getting Deadlier - And It’s Going To Get Worse · July 7, 2026 · 20 min
• Breakthrough Synthetic Cell Has Just Reproduced - But Is It Alive? · July 3, 2026 · 21 min
• The Science of Football: Inside the 2026 World Cup · July 2, 2026 · 48 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The World, the Universe and Us podcast page.