The Associated Press recently reported that astronomers at the European Southern Observatory have "found 32 new planets outside our solar system, adding evidence to the theory that the universe has many places where life could develop.

At this stage, no planets quite the size of earth have been found, however the discoveries, made by the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher (HARPS) instrument, increased the number of "super-Earth" planets which are a few times the size of Earth by 30%.

According to Stephane Udry of the University of Geneva, the results "support the theory that planet formation is common, especially around the most common types of stars." Alan Boss of the Carnegie Institution of Washington adds: "finding 32 planets at once is a record 'and it really shows that the Europeans have taken the lead' in finding planets outside the solar system."