Earth-Sized Exoplanet Is Least Massive Ever Found

April 21, 2009 — Scientists say they’ve discovered a planet outside our solar system that is close to Earth in size — far different from the behemoths they had previously seen so far.

Scientists attending a conference in England said Tuesday that a planet less than twice the size of Earth has been located in a galaxy outside our solar system. The planet, dubbed “e,” was found in the well-known star system Gliese 581. The discovery is the outcome of more than four years of observations using the HARPS spectrograph attached to the 12-foot ESO telescope at La Silla, Chile.

As many as 300 so called exoplanets — or planets outside our solar system — have been discovered, but most are much larger than Earth.

The BBC is quoting scientist Xavier Bonfils of the Grenoble Observatory in France as saying the new planet is the least massive exoplanet ever detected.

Take Care of Your Brain – Eat Well

You are what you eat, and that includes your brain. So what is the ultimate mastermind diet?

YOUR brain is the greediest organ in your body, with some quite specific dietary requirements. So it is hardly surprising that what you eat can affect how you think. If you believe the dietary supplement industry, you could become the next Einstein just by popping the right combination of pills. Look closer, however, and it isn’t that simple. The savvy consumer should take talk of brain-boosting diets with a pinch of low-sodium salt. But if it is possible to eat your way to genius, it must surely be worth a try.