JWST observations are consistent with the planet TRAPPIST-1e having an atmosphere, two new papers report. The results don’t mean an atmosphere is definite, let alone tell us if it has a composition suited to habitability, but it’s a major step forward in the search for worlds like Earth. Given TRAPPIST-1e’s location firmly within its star’s habitable zone, a substantial atmosphere would make the presence of liquid water at the surface likely. The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.

When the TRAPPIST-1 system was discovered , astronomers could barely contain their excitement . Here was a system where five (later raised to seven) planets of similar size to the Earth not only orbited a star, but regularly transited across its

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