Seven Earth-Size Exo-Planets Discovered Around Single Star

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has revealed the first known system of seven Earth-size planets around a single star. Three of these planets are firmly located in the habitable zone, the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water.  The discovery sets a new record for greatest number of habitable-zone planets found around a single star outside our solar system. All of these seven planets could have liquid water – key to life as we know it – under the right atmospheric conditions, but the chances are highest with the three in the habitable zone.

Organic material discovered on Ceres hints at potential for life

Simple organic molecules have been detected on the dwarf planet Ceres, adding to evidence it contains key ingredients essential for life. The substances most likely evolved within Ceres, which is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, rather than being delivered by a cosmic collision.

Pregnant reptile fossil suggests bird ancestors gave birth to live young

The discovery of a fossil of a pregnant marine reptile, Dinocephalosaurus, has provided the first evidence that an ancestor of modern-day birds and crocodiles gave birth to live young.

DNA reveals how pitcher plants evolved to become flesh-eaters

Carnivorous plants around the world all developed their killer habit in surprisingly similar fashion, according to a genetic study of distantly related pitcher plants from Australia, Asia and America.

Most complex bacterium yet discovered

The bacterium Gemmata obscuriglobus has been described as the "platypus of microbiology" because it appears to contain features associated with eukaryotes.  These include a membrane-bounded nucleus, the ability to transport molecules such as proteins into the cell, and its ability to reproduce by a unique way of budding.

Electron microscope image of Gemmata obscuriglobus bacterium reveals several pore-like structures that resemble those found in the membrane of the nucleus in complex cells.