NASA's Webb Telescope Detects CO₂ and Water Vapor in Atmosphere of Potentially Habitable Exoplanet

In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has identified carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere of K2-18b, a planet located 120 light-years away orbiting a red dwarf star. With temperatures suitable for liquid water, this marks the first time both crucial molecules have been detected simultaneously in a habitable zone exoplanet, suggesting potential life-supporting conditions.

Project scientist Nikku Madhusudhan revealed that subsequent observations will focus on detecting biomarkers like methane and dimethyl sulfide - chemical signatures associated with life on Earth. However, Harvard researchers caution that intense stellar flares from the red dwarf host star could potentially strip the planet's atmosphere, necessitating further study of planetary magnetic field protection mechanisms.

The Webb telescope has already identified 20 similar planetary targets for intensive observation in 2025, significantly advancing the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system. This discovery, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, represents a major milestone in exoplanet characterization and astrobiology research.