In fact, it appears likely that an Earth-mass planet will be discovered within a few years.
Most Americans thought a cure for cancer would be discovered within five years – emulating the technological success of landing a man on the Moon.
With these factors in mind, nearly every species on the planet could be discovered within the next 50 years if current trends continue.
For Islamists like Zaghloul el-Naggar in Cairo, the host of a popular television show about the Koran's scientific teachings, all science can be discovered within the Muslim holy text, from the cause of earthquakes to genetics.
Though the gene is expected to be just one of the many that contribute to the disease, its detection raises hopes that the others may be discovered within the next five years or so, said Michael F. Christman, a leader of the team.
A top priority of planetary scientists is to get a closer look at Europa, one of Jupiter's large moons, which has a large ocean beneath its icy crust, making it one of the most promising places where life could be discovered within the solar system.
