James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Latest News

Recently, scientists have found tentative but strong evidence of possible extraterrestrial life on a distant exoplanet named K2-18b, located 124 light years away from Earth in the Leo constellation.

About James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)

• The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in December 2021, is the largest and most powerful space observatory built through a collaboration between NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), and Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
• JWST orbits the L2 Lagrange Point, about 1.5 million km beyond Earth, enabling a stable position for deep-space observation.
• The telescope operates primarily in the infrared spectrum and is equipped with components such as:
  • Optical Telescope Element (OTE) – collects light from distant objects.
  • Integrated Science Instrument Module (ISIM) – houses all cameras and instruments.
  • Sunshield – protects sensitive instruments from solar radiation.
  • Spacecraft Bus – provides necessary operational support.

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Scientific Findings on K2-18b

• The Cambridge University research team studied the planet’s atmosphere and detected chemical signatures of gases like dimethyl sulphide (DMS) and dimethyl disulphide (DMDS).
• On Earth, these gases are known to be produced only by marine phytoplankton and certain bacteria, raising the possibility of biological activity on K2-18b.
• The amount of DMS detected is thousands of times greater than Earth’s levels, suggesting, if biological, that the planet might be teeming with life.

Source: BBC