Scientists believe that the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/james-webb-telescope">James Webb Telescope</a> and other next generation telescopes could allow them to detect unique signatures of alien life forms in the atmospheres of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nasa-finds-planets-may-contain-life-hank-berrien">extrasolar planets</a>.
Scientists have long speculated about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/aliens">aliens</a> have captured the public imagination to become a mainstay of popular culture and science fiction. Earth is, as of now, the only known home of life in the universe.
Many astronomers have suggested that life may have emerged on other bodies in our solar system, such as <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mars">Mars</a> and <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2022/05/02/jupiters-moon-europa-may-have-shallow-water-and-an-earth-like-ocean-where-life-could-exist-say-scientists/?sh=1e7aa8cb4d42">Europa</a>, one of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, due to the presence or possible presence of liquid water. However, verifying these claims is extremely difficult — with no readily apparent biosphere probes that would have to be sent across millions of miles to collect physical samples for further study.
Astronomers <a href="https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-exoplanet-atmospheres-explained">increasingly believe</a> that the first signs of alien life will be found beyond the Solar System, on exoplanets orbiting other stars. <a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/who-really-discovered-the-first-exoplanet/">Since the 1990s</a>, scientists have discovered <a href="https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/">over 5,000</a> exoplanets, and theoretical models suggest that there are far, far more, with some estimates claiming that there could be at least <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/11/06/1011784/half-milky-way-sun-like-stars-home-earth-like-planets-kepler-gaia-habitable-life/">300 million</a> habitable planets in our galaxy.
While sending probes to these planets will be impossible for the foreseeable future, observing light that has interacted with the planet could <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1304213111">reveal telltale signs</a> of complex life. Different substances absorb and reflect different wavelengths of light, which is why our eyes perceive them as being different colors. Chlorophyll in plants is green, for example, because it absorbs energy-intensive blue light and abundant red light emitted by our Sun, reflecting the less useful green light in the visible spectrum and maximizing the amount of energy available for photosynthesis.
The light reflected off planets is a minuscule fraction of the light emitted by their star, which makes extrasolar planets almost impossible to observe directly, however, when an exoplanet <a href="http://www.exoplanetes.umontreal.ca/transit-method/?lang=en">passes directly in front</a> of its host star, the resulting “eclipse” blocks out a small fraction of the star’s rays. By closely observing a star over a sufficient period of time, astronomers can determine the orbital period of the planet, as well as its radius. When paired with the <a href="https://www.planetary.org/articles/color-shifting-stars-the-radial-velocity-method">‘radial velocity’</a> method, which observes the minute gravitational pull a planet exerts on its host star, astronomers can estimate the mass, density, and surface gravity of a planet with a high degree of confidence, and by observing the spectrum of light being absorbed and reflected by a planet during transit, they can get an idea about the chemical composition of its surface and atmosphere.
<div class="image"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-412383" src="https://editorial.dailywire.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Chlorophyll-Light-Profile-300x300.jpeg" alt="" width="640" height="640" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/Chlorophyll-Light-Profile-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/Chlorophyll-Light-Profile-576x576.jpeg 576w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/Chlorophyll-Light-Profile-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/Chlorophyll-Light-Profile-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2022/07/Chlorophyll-Light-Profile.jpeg 1200w" sizes=" (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" /></div>
The James Webb Telescope, a successor to NASA’s famed Hubble Telescope that took three decades and $10 billion to make, was launched in December of 2021 and transmitted its first images in July of 2022. With a higher resolution and greater sensitivity than Hubble and other, older models, the Webb Telescope, which has already <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-nasa-releases-the-deepest-sharpest-infrared-photo-of-the-universe-ever-from-space-telescope">dazzled the world</a> with its remarkably detailed images, represents a major step forward in the study of our universe. <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/tiny-dust-could-yield-big-answers-under-webb-telescope-s-gaze">According to</a> Christiaan Boersma, an astronomer at NASA’s Ames Research Center, “We’ll be able to see details — better details — on smaller scales than ever before.”
The presence of certain gasses is not definitive proof that a given planet is habitable; the Webb telescope has already taken a reading of the gas giant <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/12/science/wasp-96b-exoplanet-webb-telescope.html">WASP-96b</a> and found large amounts of water vapor, but scientists have good reason to believe the planet is inhospitable. Webb is also not built for discovering exoplanets and is unable to detect free oxygen — one of the strongest possible signs of life.
Despite these limitations, Webb has already proven that it can provide detailed information on many of the key questions surrounding the potential habitability of planets, and if all the stars align, scientists might find a match. The satellite is in high demand by researchers, but is already scheduled to turn its gaze toward <a href="https://www.space.com/36349-trappist-1e-just-right-for-life.html">TRAPPIST-1e</a>, an Earth-like planet orbiting a star 39 light years away from our own. If all goes well, in the coming months scientists could discover extraterrestrial life less than 12 parsecs away.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Advanced NASA Telescope Could Discover Alien Life

CONTINUE READING

Morning Brief: Zelensky & Nato Leaders Attend WH Peace Talks, Meta AI Flirts With Kids, DC Crackdown

Morning Brief: Israel Bombs Iran, The Money Behind L.A. Riots & Sanctuary State Govs Get Grilled

How Ukraine Pulled Off Its Massive Drone Strike Inside Russia

Trump Admin Revokes Visa Of Self-Styled ‘Enemy Of America’

Nearly Two Thirds Of Americans Support Trump’s Deportation Policy: Poll

Ukraine Accepts Partial Ceasefire After ‘Very Good Call’ Between Zelensky And Trump

News

Aliens

James Webb Telescope

NASA

Space

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Advanced NASA Telescope Could Discover Alien Life