James Webb Space Telescope spots potential life-supporting exoplanets 40 light-years away

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified rocky exoplanets in the habitable zone of the star TRAPPIST-1, located 40 light-years away. This marks a significant advancement in the search for life beyond our solar system. In 2025, astronomers aim to detect atmospheric molecules on these exoplanets. This process involves analyzing starlight filtered through the planets' atmospheres during transits, a challenging task that the JWST is equipped to handle. Additionally, the JWST has found potential signs of carbon dioxide and methane on K2-18b, a gas giant 124 light-years away. This planet differs from rocky exoplanets, suggesting that any life there could be very different from life on Earth.