From: cleoabram
The advent of new telescopic capabilities marks a significant moment in the search for life beyond Earth [00:00:11]. Recent images released by NASA showcase the deepest view ever seen into space and incredibly clear views of stars being born [00:00:12]. One particular image, though not visually striking, is deemed the most exciting because it reveals how to find aliens [00:00:21].
Exoplanets and the Cosmic Census
Currently, approximately 5,000 exoplanets, or planets outside our solar system, are known [00:01:00]. This number is likely much larger, considering that the Kepler telescope was pointed at just one small section of space for four years to find many of them [00:01:04]. The map of these discovered worlds represents decades of scientific work and tremendous leaps forward in technology [00:01:12]. Despite the vast number of discoveries, as far as we know, there is no other life detected in our cosmic neighborhood [00:01:29].
The Role of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST)
The James Webb Space Telescope is poised to change this [00:01:34]. While detecting an exoplanet is difficult, determining what exists on it is even harder [00:01:37].
Identifying Biosignatures
The JWST has the unprecedented ability to find indicators of life, known as biosignatures, on other planets [00:02:10]. For instance, if one could discern that Earth’s atmosphere contains 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen from a great distance, there would be a strong likelihood of finding life [00:01:57]. This method, however, doesn’t necessarily indicate intelligent life [00:02:06].
The process works as follows:
- When a planet passes between its star and Earth, it causes a tiny dip in the starlight [00:02:18].
- This “transit method” has been crucial for locating many exoplanets [00:02:22].
- Crucially, not all starlight is blocked during a transit; a small amount passes through the planet’s atmosphere on its way to Earth [00:02:26].
- Different gases within the atmosphere absorb different kinds of light [00:02:34].
- The James Webb Space Telescope is powerful enough to detect which types of light are missing, thereby identifying the atmospheric composition [00:02:38].
- This remarkable capability allows for the detection of “tiny, tiny specks of darkness against tiny, tiny specks of light in the depths of space” [00:02:52].
First Discoveries: WASP 96b
Scientists directed the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze WASP 96b [00:03:02]. Light from WASP 96b began its journey 1,150 years ago and only recently reached the telescope [00:03:19]. By analyzing the types of light blocked by its atmosphere, it was determined that WASP 96b’s atmosphere contains water [00:03:27].
However, it’s important to note that this does not signify the discovery of life [00:03:34]. WASP 96b is a hot gas giant with water vapor in a steamy atmosphere, not liquid water [00:03:37]. While water vapor has been detected on other planets closer to Earth (a couple hundred light-years away), the level of detail observed on WASP 96b, over 1,000 light-years away, is astounding [00:03:49].
The Beginning of a New Era
This initial data from the JWST serves as a “proof of concept,” demonstrating that this method of searching for atmospheric compositions works [00:04:09]. This is just the beginning of a potentially revolutionary period in scientific history [00:04:13]. Humanity is now actively engaged in seeking out new life and civilizations, exploring what no one has seen before [00:04:36]. This endeavor is not science fiction; it is real [00:04:43]. The search for cosmic purpose and a worthy goal may well lie far beyond Earth [00:04:54].