Explore

James Webb Space Telescope Detects Atmosphere on Ultra-Hot Super-Earth TOI-561 b

James Webb Space Telescope Detects Atmosphere on Ultra-Hot Super-Earth TOI-561 b

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have discovered compelling evidence of an atmosphere around the rocky exoplanet TOI-561 b. This finding challenges the prevailing belief that small planets orbiting very close to their stars cannot sustain atmospheres. TOI-561 b, an ultra-hot super-Earth, orbits a 10-billion-year-old star located about 280 light-years from Earth. The planet completes a full orbit in under 11 hours, placing it in a class of ultra-short-period super-Earths. Despite the intense stellar radiation expected to strip away any atmosphere, observations from NASA's TESS space telescope revealed that TOI-561 b has an unusually low density for a purely rocky world. Using the JWST's NIRSpec instrument, scientists measured the planet's dayside temperature, finding it significantly cooler than expected if it lacked an atmosphere. This suggests the presence of a thick, volatile-rich atmosphere that could be maintained by a balance between the planet's molten surface and its atmospher...

James Webb Space Telescope Uncovers Twin Gas Tails on Exoplanet WASP-121b

James Webb Space Telescope Uncovers Twin Gas Tails on Exoplanet WASP-121b

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a groundbreaking discovery of an exoplanet, WASP-121b, exhibiting two extensive helium gas tails. This ultrahot Jupiter, located approximately 858 light-years away, orbits its star every 30 hours, with its atmosphere reaching temperatures of around 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit. The helium tails are 100 times longer than the planet's width and extend three times the distance between the planet and its star. This phenomenon challenges existing scientific models, as such dual tails have not been observed before. The discovery was made using JWST's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) over a continuous 37-hour observation period.

JWST Uncovers Early Universe Black Hole Growth, Challenging Existing Theories

JWST Uncovers Early Universe Black Hole Growth, Challenging Existing Theories

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has revealed a supermassive black hole in the early universe, challenging current models of black hole and galaxy co-evolution. Observations of the galaxy Virgil, seen 800 million years after the Big Bang, show a black hole accreting material at a rate far exceeding expectations. This discovery suggests that black holes may grow faster than their host galaxies, contradicting previous beliefs that galaxies formed first and nurtured black holes over time. The findings highlight the need to reassess theories of cosmic evolution.

James Webb Space Telescope Observes Hot Jupiter Exoplanet with Unexplained Twin Gas Tails

James Webb Space Telescope Observes Hot Jupiter Exoplanet with Unexplained Twin Gas Tails

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has made a groundbreaking discovery of a distant 'hot Jupiter' exoplanet, WASP-121b, which exhibits two extensive gas tails composed of helium. This observation marks the first comprehensive study of atmospheric escape from a planet outside our solar system during a complete orbit. WASP-121b, located approximately 858 light-years away, is an 'ultrahot Jupiter' that orbits its star every 30 hours, with its atmosphere reaching temperatures of around 4,200 degrees Fahrenheit. The intense heat causes lighter gases like hydrogen and helium to escape into space, altering the planet's size and composition over millions of years. The JWST's Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) was used to observe the planet for 37 consecutive hours, revealing the longest continuous detection of helium escape. The helium forms two distinct tails, one trailing behind the planet due to stellar winds and radiation, and the other leading the planet, likely influenced by gravitational forces.

James Webb Space Telescope Detects Signs of Supermassive Black Hole in Spiral Galaxy M83

James Webb Space Telescope Detects Signs of Supermassive Black Hole in Spiral Galaxy M83

The James Webb Space Telescope has made a significant discovery in the spiral galaxy M83, also known as the Southern Pinwheel, which is located approximately 15 million light-years from Earth. Recent observations have revealed the presence of highly ionized neon gas, a key indicator suggesting the existence of a supermassive black hole at the galaxy's core. This finding is part of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar, which showcases daily images and discoveries from space. The detection of such gas is crucial as it often points to the presence of active galactic nuclei, which are regions at the center of galaxies with supermassive black holes that emit large amounts of energy.

NASA's James Webb and Curiosity Rover Honored in TIME's Best Inventions Hall of Fame

NASA's James Webb and Curiosity Rover Honored in TIME's Best Inventions Hall of Fame

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope and the Curiosity rover have been recognized in TIME's 'Best Inventions Hall of Fame.' This accolade celebrates 25 groundbreaking inventions over the past 25 years that have significantly impacted the world. The James Webb Space Telescope, operating a million miles from Earth, is the most powerful space telescope ever built, providing unprecedented views of the universe, including newborn stars and distant galaxies. The Curiosity rover, a car-sized science lab on Mars, has been exploring the Red Planet for over a decade, uncovering evidence that Mars could have once supported life. These missions have not only advanced scientific understanding but have also contributed to technological innovations that benefit everyday life, such as improvements in manufacturing and optics.

James Webb Space Telescope Captures Cosmic Tornado in Advent Calendar

James Webb Space Telescope Captures Cosmic Tornado in Advent Calendar

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured an image of Herbig-Haro 49/50, a cosmic phenomenon resembling a tornado, as part of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar. Located about 630 light-years from Earth, the image shows energetic jets from a newly-forming star interacting with dense gas and dust, creating a tornado-like shape. The image also features a distant spiral galaxy at the 'tip' of the tornado, unrelated to the Herbig-Haro object. This image is part of a series released daily until December 25, showcasing the telescope's capabilities.

NASA's James Webb Telescope Identifies Earliest Supernova, Reveals Host Galaxy

NASA's James Webb Telescope Identifies Earliest Supernova, Reveals Host Galaxy

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking observation by identifying a supernova that exploded when the universe was only 730 million years old, marking the earliest detection of its kind. The telescope's high-resolution near-infrared images also allowed astronomers to locate the supernova's faint host galaxy. This observation was part of a coordinated effort with other international telescopes that detected a gamma-ray burst in mid-March. The supernova's light, stretched over billions of years due to the expanding universe, was observed to brighten over several months. This discovery not only sets a new record for the earliest supernova detected but also provides insights into the characteristics of early stars, which were expected to differ significantly from modern stars.

Astronomers Discover 'Monster Stars' in Early Universe, Shedding Light on Cosmic Dark Ages

Astronomers Discover 'Monster Stars' in Early Universe, Shedding Light on Cosmic Dark Ages

Astronomers have made a groundbreaking discovery using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), identifying 'monster stars' that existed in the early universe. These stars, weighing between 1,000 and 10,000 times the mass of our Sun, were found in a galaxy named GS 3073. The discovery was made by analyzing the chemical signatures within the galaxy, particularly the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio, which was found to be significantly higher than what can be explained by known stellar phenomena. This finding provides the first direct evidence of such massive stars, which are believed to have existed during the universe's first few hundred million years, a period known as the 'cosmic Dark Ages.' These stars likely played a crucial role in the formation of supermassive black holes, which are some of the brightest objects in the universe.

James Webb Space Telescope Identifies Earliest Known Supernova

James Webb Space Telescope Identifies Earliest Known Supernova

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has identified the earliest known supernova, which exploded when the universe was only 730 million years old. This discovery marks the earliest detection of a supernova to date, with the telescope's near-infrared images also revealing the supernova's faint host galaxy. The observation was part of a coordinated effort with other international telescopes following a gamma-ray burst detected in March. The supernova's light, stretched over billions of years due to cosmic expansion, was captured by Webb three and a half months after the gamma-ray burst.

James Webb Space Telescope Captures 'Cosmic Tornado' Phenomenon

James Webb Space Telescope Captures 'Cosmic Tornado' Phenomenon

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a striking image of a 'cosmic tornado' in the Herbig-Haro 49/50 region, located approximately 630 light-years from Earth. This phenomenon is created by energetic jets from a nearby newly-forming star interacting with dense gas and dust, resulting in a tornado-like shape in space. The image is part of the 2025 Space Telescope Advent Calendar, which features daily releases of cosmic images leading up to December 25. The 'tip' of the tornado-like structure is actually a distant spiral galaxy, unrelated to the Herbig-Haro object.

James Webb Space Telescope Detects Earliest Known Supernova from Cosmic Dawn

James Webb Space Telescope Detects Earliest Known Supernova from Cosmic Dawn

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has identified the earliest known supernova, dating back to the Cosmic Dawn, approximately 720 million years after the Big Bang. This discovery surpasses the previous record-holder, a supernova that occurred when the universe was 1.8 billion years old. The detection was initially made by the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM), a joint French-Chinese satellite, which observed a gamma-ray burst (GRB 250314A) at a redshift of 7.3. Follow-up observations confirmed the distance and nature of the event. The supernova, associated with a long-duration gamma-ray burst, was found to be a typical supernova, similar to those observed in the more recent universe. This finding provides insights into the nature of stars during the Epoch of Reionization, a critical period when the universe's opaque fog of neutral hydrogen was ionized, allowing light to travel freely.