Every day we take a step closer to finding signs of life in outer space. A recent reveal comes from the University of Bristol, who, with the James Webb Telescope, have found an earth-sized exoplanet that could have an ocean on its surface.
James Webb Telescope: Mystery Surrounding Exoplanets Atmosphere
For a planet to support life, many conditions must perfectly align. Scientists now believe such conditions might exist on a planet 40 light-years away. Using the James Webb Telescope’s NIRSpec instrument, researchers from the University of Bristol investigated whether the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1e, also known as planet e, has an atmosphere. This is key because liquid water, whether as oceans or ice, would only be possible if an atmosphere exists.
When the planet passes in front of its sun, some of the starlight travels through its atmosphere – if it has one. During this, certain parts of the light get absorbed, and these dips help astronomers figure out what chemicals are present. Each time they observe this, their understanding of the atmosphere becomes clearer, as described in their findings.
They made four different observations with the telescope. Dr. Hannah Wakeford, Associate Professor in Astrophysics at the University of Bristol explained in a university post, “JWST’s infrared instruments are providing unprecedented detail, helping us understand much more about what determines a planet’s atmosphere and surface environment, and what they’re composed of. It’s incredibly exciting to be peeling back the curtain of these fascinating other worlds.”
Researchers are confident that planet e lost its original hydrogen-based atmosphere, likely stripped away by intense radiation from its active host star. While the loss of this primordial atmosphere is expected, it remains uncertain whether planet e developed a secondary atmosphere, which could support the presence of liquid water on its surface. As Dr. Ana Glidden of MIT and lead author on a second research paper, explains, “TRAPPIST-1 is a very different star from our Sun, and the planetary system around it is also distinct,” highlighting the uniqueness of this potential habitable world.
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Future Research Plans
Planet e isn’t the only one researchers have their eyes on. The next steps will involve observing planet b, orbiting closest to its sun, TRAPPIST-1. Thanks to the infrared instruments of the James Webb Telescope, researchers are able to get more details and information than ever before
The findings around planet e will help researchers with future projects, as Dr. Néstor Espinoza, an Associate Astronomer and Mission Scientist for Exoplanet Science at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland explained, “the initial four observations we’ve been able to make of planet e are showing us what we will have to work with when the rest of the information comes in.” So, the James Webb Telescope will continue to help further research into the farthest corners of space.
Sources: University of Bristol; “JWST-TST DREAMS: NIRSpec/PRISM Transmission Spectroscopy of the Habitable Zone Planet TRAPPIST-1 e” (The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2025); “JWST-TST DREAMS: Secondary Atmosphere Constraints for the Habitable Zone Planet TRAPPIST-1 e” (The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2025)