Scientists using the James Webb space telescope have identified an exoplanet, LHS 1140 b, that could potentially harbor a liquid ocean and support alien life. This planet, located 48 light years away from Earth, is one of the few discovered in the "Goldilocks zone" - the habitable region neither too hot nor too cold for liquid water to exist.

Initially thought to be a gas giant, further observations from the Webb telescope have now confirmed that LHS 1140 b is actually a rocky "super-Earth." This newfound exoplanet is 1.7 times larger than Earth, but possesses 5.6 times its mass, according to a study published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

By analyzing the planet's atmosphere as it transited in front of its star, researchers successfully ruled out its classification as a mini-Neptune, as no signs of hydrogen or helium were detected. Instead, the planet's density suggests that it contains significant amounts of water. Estimates indicate that water may constitute 10 to 20 percent of LHS 1140 b's mass - a vast amount compared to Earth's oceans, which represent only 0.02 percent of our planet's mass.

Although scientists have yet to directly confirm the presence of an atmosphere, multiple indicators point to its existence. The exoplanet's gentle warmth, resulting from its red dwarf star, which is one-fifth the size of the Sun, implies surface temperatures similar to Earth and Mars. The presence of key gases such as carbon dioxide will ultimately determine whether the planet is covered in ice or liquid water.

One intriguing possibility is the presence of a bull's-eye ocean, where a vast liquid water body exists where the planet is most exposed to its star's heat. Modelling suggests this ocean could have a diameter of around 4,000 kilometers, roughly half the size of the Atlantic Ocean. Alternatively, the liquid water may be concealed beneath a thick shell of ice, resembling the conditions found on the moons Ganymede, Enceladus, or Europa orbiting Jupiter and Saturn.

Further analysis using the Webb telescope hope to confirm the presence of nitrogen, another potential ingredient for life. The researchers aim to acquire more telescope time to explore LHS 1140 b's characteristics in detail. It is expected to take at least a year to confirm the presence of an atmosphere and two to three more years to detect carbon dioxide.

Ultimately, LHS 1140 b stands as a promising candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life. Its location within the habitable zone and the potential for a substantial water presence make it a prime target for further investigation.