Chinese, German scientists discover super-Earth

KUNMING — For centuries, the question of whether life exists beyond Earth has intrigued humanity, and now a joint discovery by Chinese and German scientists may offer a significant clue.

Using the Transit Timing Variation technique for the first time, the scientists found a super-Earth — Kepler-725c, with 10 times the mass of the Earth — within the habitable zone of the Sun-like star Kepler-725, which is a promising candidate for potential habitability.

"This newly discovered nontransiting planet and its host star are located at a place about 2,472 light-years from the solar system," said Gu Shenghong, team leader from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Yunnan Observatories.