'Super-Earth' orbiting nearby star boosts search for extra-solar life

Astronomers on Wednesday announced the discovery of a "super-Earth" orbiting a nearby star which may offer the most promising target yet in the search for life beyond the Solar System.Named LHS 1140b, the planet orbits a star 40 light years away, circling it in the coveted "Goldilocks" zone.Previous worlds in this temperate zone have already been spotted, notably a clutch unveiled just two months ago to great fanfare.