The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made history by directly observing carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmospheres of exoplanets for the first time. This breakthrough was announced by NASA on March 17, 2025, and marks a significant advancement in exoplanetary research.
Astronomers have long relied on the “transit method” to detect CO2 on exoplanets. However, JWST’s coronagraph instruments allowed scientists to directly observe the emitted light from these planets, providing new data and insights into their atmospheres.
This direct detection method represents a major leap forward in exoplanetary research. According to William Balmer, lead study author at Johns Hopkins University, it’s like shining a flashlight to spot fireflies near a lighthouse. The discovery of CO2 has significant implications for understanding planetary formation and the potential for life beyond Earth.
While gas giants in the HR 8799 system are unlikely to support life due to their extreme environments, the presence of CO2 suggests that these planets might have formed similarly to Jupiter and Saturn through a “bottom-up” process. Moons orbiting these exoplanets could be more promising candidates for hosting life, similar to the moons of Jupiter like Europa.
Future missions, such as NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope set to launch in 2027, will study smaller, Earth-like planets that are more likely to support life. JWST’s findings in the HR 8799 system will pave the way for these future missions, which could potentially reveal signs of life beyond our solar system.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/03/webb-telescopes-first-ever-exoplanet-co2-discovery-stuns-scientists-nasa-says