Helium may be escaping from habitable-zone exoplanet LHS 1140b

EarthSky reports that astronomers detected helium escaping from LHS 1140b, a potentially rocky planet in its star’s habitable zone. A second observation did not detect helium, leaving the finding tentative. EarthSky says escaping helium could signal a long-lasting secondary atmosphere and help scientists study how planetary atmospheres form and evolve.