• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Chances of 'Planet X' having alien life as scientists think they've discovered a new planet in our solar system

Home> News> Science

Updated 12:09 2 May 2025 GMT+1Published 12:01 2 May 2025 GMT+1

Chances of 'Planet X' having alien life as scientists think they've discovered a new planet in our solar system

Has our solar neighbourhood just got bigger?

Kegan Marquez

Kegan Marquez

It's common knowledge that there are eight planets in our solar system. Or are there? Astronomers are starting to think that there might be a ninth planet tucked away, right on the edge of our solar system.

The suspected ninth planet, known as Planet Nine, or as NASA calls is, Planet X, has been discussed as a possibility now since way back in 2016.

The ninth planet in our solar system was first brought up as a possibility when two astronomers from the California Institute of Technology found evidence of a gravitational force, large enough to be a planet, beyond Neptune.

Advert

Astronomers believe our solar system may have a ninth planet (Getty Stock Images)
Astronomers believe our solar system may have a ninth planet (Getty Stock Images)

For anyone that's a little confused, and thinking, but what about Pluto? While Pluto was once considered the ninth planet in our solar system, it was stripped of its planetary status back in 2006 and is now considered a dwarf-planet.

With astronomers hot on the heels of Planet X, it might not be too long before our solar system jumps back up to having nine planets, again.

While the study was focusing on 13 potential planets, it has now been reduced down to just one.

A single entity that astronomers believe might be our Planet X, and could even potentially have signs of life.

Advert

But, before you grab your coat and prepare for a trip to visit this new alien planet, just make sure you're prepared for a trip to a planet that is approximately 46.5 billion to 65.1 billion miles away, it might take a while.

Illustration of the solar system (Getty Stock Images)
Illustration of the solar system (Getty Stock Images)

Speaking of grabbing your coat, the planet is so far from the sun, most scientists believe it would be an ice giant with temperatures estimated to be as cold as -409°F (-245°C). Essentially making a trip to the Antarctica feel like a holiday in the Bahamas in comparison.

Not only would Planet X be too cold to support a huge variety of life, it would also be too far from the sun to supply enough energy for many lifeforms to exist.

Under these extreme conditions, scientists believe the planet would only be able to support life known as extremophile, microbes which are able to survive even in the most harsh environments.

Advert

When talking about Planet Nine, or Planet X, NASA said: "It could also make our solar system seem a little more 'normal'."

What they're talking about here is that the most common types of planets in our galaxy are super Earths - bigger than Earth but smaller than Neptune. Planet X would fall under this category.

It also explains why the Kuiper Belt is tilted by about 20 degrees. With Planet Nine/Planet X gravity pulling on these objects, it would make sense that it would impact their obit, making the entire ice belt fall out of line with other planets orbiting the sun.

Featured Image Credit: NASA

Topics: Space, NASA, Science

Kegan Marquez
Kegan Marquez

Kegan is a freelance writer with a passion for everything tech and gaming. He has worked for global brands across the globe, including IGN, PCgamer, PCmag and many more. When he isn't working, Kegan spends most of his time playing video games, building and upgrading gaming PCs and looking for the next thing in tech to obsess about.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
6 hours ago
7 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    Terrifying GoPro footage shows moment great white shark 'nearly eats' diver

    It just swam into view while he was diving

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Scientists have absolutely no idea what 'impossible' radio signals coming from deep inside Antarctica are

    "We still don't actually have an explanation for what those anomalies are"

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    Conspiracy theory sparked after China posts video of astronauts in space

    One small glass for man, one giant conspiracy theory for mankind

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    Scientists left stunned after discovering man was living normal life with 90% of his brain missing

    I'm often accused of not having a brain, but this is next level

    News
  • Scientists think they've discovered a new planet in our solar system, 'Planet X'
  • Researchers think they've solved the mystery of dark markings found on Mars surface
  • Scientists think they know how to find ‘hidden’ ninth planet lurking in the solar system
  • Everything we know about alien planet discovered by James Webb Telescope that has ‘best ever signs of life’