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What if it is the Missing Link?

Updated on April 4, 2011

Missing Link

Kepler 10b
Kepler 10b

The science world is all slapping themselves on the back, because they have found what they call the missing link in planets.

They have found the as yet, smallest planet outside of our solar system. It is definitely rocky like Earth and is slightly smaller. Yet it has a mass about 4.6 higher than Earth.

Most planets that they have found before are believed to be gas giants, so they are calling this the missing link.

I don’t know what all the fuss is about. With the billions of stars out there, most of us believe that there must be thousands if not millions of planets like ours, out there somewhere.

They are calling this one of the greatest discoveries to date. Well, if that was what they were being paid to find, well done but to what avail. I think to call it one of the greatest discoveries is taking it a bit too far. After all, this planet, Kepler10b, is 560 light years away and is so close to its Sun that the estimated temperature on the surface is 1300C. Which means it is unlikely to support life, as we know it.

As I have said, if this is what they are being paid to look for, well done, but why are they being paid to look for these. Surely there could be more worthwhile work for them and their telescopes. Like, looking for speeding asteroids, that could be on a collision course with Earth.

Since the United States Congress charged NASA with identifying 90% of all NEO [near earth objects], by 2020, NASA has repeatedly informed them, that it is unlikely they can accomplish this, due to lack of funds.

By all means look for planets hundreds of light years away, but must it be done before we take steps to protect our own planet. That surely should be the main priority.

When our planet is safe from collision and is capable of supporting our species, for the foreseeable future, then the science world can truly pat itself on the back.

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