Illustration of the James Webb Space Telescope detecting signs of an Earthlike atmosphere on a distant exoplanet using infrared light spectrum

James Webb finds signs of an Earthlike atmosphere — why this matters?

September 12, 2025 Science Buzzer 1

The James Webb Space Telescope, known as Webb, is giving scientists new ways to spot atmospheres like Earth’s on distant planets. Webb looks at faint infrared light. That light can carry the fingerprints of gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, oxygen, methane and ozone. These are the same gases that help make Earth habitable.