Doorstep challenge

a neW planet (Mail) that could support life four light years away has been discovered.

While in interstellar terms this is indeed ‘just on our doorstep,’ present technology would get us there in just over 5,000 years – better pack for a long journey.

as for spaceships that would get us there in decades, they exist only in Hollywood. F. RYAN, Inverness. tHe way to the new planet that could support life probably lies in an incredibly efficient thing called a stirling heat engine.

amazing to think it was invented by Church of scotland minister the Rev david stirling, of Methven, Perthshire, in the age of steam in 1816.

I. SMITH, Dunkeld, Perthshire.