by Kasey Cunningham

NASA’s Kepler mission has added to its recent discoveries of Earth-like planets orbiting stars. The Kepler probe has discovered two Earth-size planets that are orbiting a star similar to the sun. Although Kepler-20e and Kepler-20f are the first to be discovered, the fact that Earth-size planets are detectable means researchers will find more such planets.

Two weeks ago Kepler 22-b was discovered in the habitable zone but marked uninhabitible for its size. In a sense, it was too large for life. The Earth-size planets are believed to be too hot for habitation but are the appropriate size.

The next step for the Kepler team is finding a planet that contains both characteristics: the right size and the right temperature to host life.

DTM’s Alan Boss and Linda Elkins-Tanton were both quoted on the discovery on ABC News. The team that made the discovery, led by Francois Fressin of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, has published its findings in today's online edition of Nature.