Astronomers have used Webb's Near-Infrared Spectrograph to analyze light passing through the atmosphere of rocky exoplanet GJ 486 b. The planet is about 30% larger than Earth and orbits very close to its red dwarf star.
The transmission spectrum revealed distinct chemical signatures of water vapor. Although the planet is extremely hot (about 430°C/800°F), the detection suggests that rocky planets in red dwarf systems might retain atmospheres despite harsh stellar radiation. This represents a monumental step forward in our search for biosignatures in distant solar systems.
