NASA is closely studying TRAPPIST-1 e, an exoplanet 40 light-years away that is considered a prime candidate for hosting life. This distant world has sparked excitement among scientists due to its potential to harbor liquid water, a key ingredient for life as we know it.
Using its advanced infrared sensors, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured critical data about the planet, raising hopes and questions about its habitability. TRAPPIST-1 e is one of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a cool red dwarf star. Positioned in the star’s “habitable zone,” where temperatures could allow liquid water to exist, the planet is a focal point for researchers seeking signs of life beyond our solar system.
Whether planet e has an atmosphere is still TBD. Researchers are still observing it, and think its primary atmosphere is gone, though it could have a heavier secondary one. https://t.co/6eAEe9ewD5 pic.twitter.com/AcZtUqBbOE
— NASA Webb Telescope (@NASAWebb) September 8, 2025
Webb observed TRAPPIST-1 e during a transit, when the planet passes in front of its star, allowing starlight to filter through any atmosphere it might have. By analysing subtle changes in the starlight’s spectrum, scientists can detect chemical signatures that hint at the planet’s makeup. “Webb’s infrared instruments are giving us more detail than we’ve ever had access to before,” Nestor Espinoza, principal investigator at the Space Telescope Science Institute said in a statement.
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These findings, detailed in two new papers published in Astrophysical Journal Letters, mark a significant step forward in exoplanet research. Early results suggest that TRAPPIST-1 e likely lost its original hydrogen-helium atmosphere, possibly stripped away by intense solar flares from its host star. The critical question now is whether the planet developed a secondary atmosphere, like Earth’s, which could support liquid water, or if it remains a barren rock. Researchers have ruled out a thick carbon dioxide atmosphere similar to those on Venus or Mars, but the data doesn’t match any planet in our solar system.
If liquid water exists on TRAPPIST-1 e, it might form a global ocean or collect on the planet’s day-side, where constant sunlight bathes one hemisphere due to tidal locking. The other side, perpetually in darkness, would remain frozen. A moderate greenhouse effect could keep temperatures stable enough for water to persist, making the planet a tantalizing target for further study.
Scientists are planning to observe 15 additional transits using Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph, comparing signals from TRAPPIST-1 e with its neighboring planets to pinpoint unique atmospheric traits.
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