Astronomers are one step closer to finding out if life exists beyond Earth, after the discovery of an exoplanet capable of emitting a “coherent” radio signal.

A magnetic field on a planet is the first sign that it might be habitable, as it prevents radiation.

On Earth, our magnetic field extends from the molten iron in the planet’s core into space and protects life from cosmic radiation and charged particles released by the Sun.

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune also have magnetic fields, however, they are all much stronger than Earth’s.

Now, researchers believe they have spotted an alien planet that could have its own magnetic field, suggesting it could be home to extraterrestrial life.

In an article published in the journal Nature Astronomy, astrophysicists pointed out that the rocky planet YZ Ceti deflects repeated radio signals from the star it orbits.

Researchers Sebastian Pineda and Jackie Villadsen discovered the signals with the help of a radio telescope.

“The search for potentially habitable planets or life in space and other solar systems depends in part on being able to determine whether rocky Earth-like exoplanets actually have magnetic fields,” says Joe Pesce, NSF’s program director for National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

“This research shows not only that this particular rocky exoplanet likely has a magnetic field, but it provides a promising method to find more.”

The Earth’s magnetic field is a layer of electric charge that surrounds it and extends into space.