Rewritten Title:
James Webb Telescope Shatters Hopes for Earth-Like Conditions on TRAPPIST-1 d
Key Atmospheric Molecules Missing in Earth-Sized Planet
Recent observations from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have revealed that TRAPPIST-1 d, an Earth-sized exoplanet located in the habitable zone of its red dwarf star, lacks crucial atmospheric molecules such as water, methane, and carbon dioxide. The findings, obtained using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), challenge previous assumptions about the planet’s potential to host life.
A Blow to Hopes of an Earth Twin
Dr. Caroline Piaulet-Ghorayeb, lead researcher from the University of Chicago and the Trottier Research Institute, stated, “We can now rule out this planet as a true twin—or even a distant cousin—of Earth. However, the possibility of an extremely thin atmosphere, thick clouds, or no atmosphere at all remains open.”
The TRAPPIST-1 system, discovered in 2017 by the Spitzer Space Telescope, contains seven rocky planets similar in size to Earth. Its host star, an active red dwarf, emits intense radiation flares that could strip away the atmospheres of nearby planets. Despite these harsh conditions, studying such systems remains critical in the search for extraterrestrial life, given the abundance of red dwarfs in our galaxy.
Future Prospects for Habitable Worlds
Björn Benneke, a co-author from the University of Montreal, noted, “We are just beginning to explore and analyze the atmospheres of Earth-sized exoplanets. Webb’s ongoing observations of outer planets in the TRAPPIST-1 system—like e, f, g, and h—may hold better chances of detecting atmospheres and liquid water.”
A Global Quest for Answers
NASA emphasizes that this research is part of a broader international effort to answer a fundamental question: Are we alone in the universe? Webb’s discoveries pave the way for future missions, such as the proposed Habitable Worlds Observatory, which aims to deepen our understanding of potentially life-supporting planets.
Source: NASA
