In an exciting development, NASA has announced the discovery of a potential "super-Earth" exoplanet that could potentially sustain life. The exoplanet, named TOI-715 b, is located just 137 light-years away from us, making it relatively close in astronomical terms.

According to NASA, TOI-715 b orbits within a "habitable zone," which means it is situated at a distance from its parent star that could allow for the presence of liquid water on its surface. This is a crucial requirement for sustaining life as we know it. The planet, which is approximately one and a half times the width of Earth, orbits a small, reddish star.

Interestingly, the same star system may also harbor another Earth-sized planet. If confirmed, this discovery would make it the smallest habitable-zone planet found by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) so far.

NASA emphasizes that while TOI-715 b's distance from its parent star places it within a conservative habitable zone, several other factors would need to align for the planet to truly be conducive to life. Nonetheless, the measurements of the habitable zone, defined in a narrower and potentially more robust manner, suggest that both TOI-715 b and the potential Earth-sized planet are in a prime position to support life.

The super-Earth's close proximity to its star allows for easier detection and more frequent observations, thanks to the shorter year of only 19 Earth days. Since its launch in 2018, the TESS mission has been uncovering new habitable-zone exoplanets like TOI-715 b, which can be further studied using NASA's upcoming James Webb Space Telescope.

The James Webb Space Telescope is designed not only to detect exoplanets but also to explore the composition of their atmospheres, providing valuable insights into the possibility of life beyond our solar system.

The groundbreaking research leading to the discovery of this potential super-Earth was led by Georgina Dransfield at the University of Birmingham, UK. The findings, published in the "Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society" journal in January, mark another significant step forward in our understanding of the conditions necessary to sustain life and our exploration of exoplanets.

With each new discovery, astronomers are inching closer to unraveling the mysteries of our universe and gaining invaluable insights into the potential for life beyond our own planet.