This Earth-like planet orbits the Sun鈥檚 nearest neighbor every 11 days
Jim Davenport, a postdoctoral fellow at Western Washington University, believes Proxima b鈥檚 biggest obstacle to Earth-like conditions is likely to be Proxima Centauri鈥檚 continual flares, which can be ten times more energetic than any ever observed on our Sun. Harsh x-rays and ultraviolet radiation from the flares could strip Proxima b of its atmosphere, leaving it barren and airless.