Science

NASA's Webb Telescope Unveils Secrets of Common Yet Enigmatic Exoplanets

2025-05-05

Author: Charlotte

In a groundbreaking revelation, NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has shed light on the most frequently found type of exoplanet in our galaxy: the elusive sub-Neptunes. Despite their distance from our Sun, these gassy planets have always remained shrouded in mystery and haze.

"I’ve spent my entire career awaiting this moment with Webb to dive deep into the atmospheres of these smaller planets," said Eliza Kempton, PhD, the lead researcher from the University of Maryland. "By examining their atmospheres, we aim to uncover clues about their formation, evolution, and the intriguing question of why they don’t exist within our solar system."

Introducing TOI-421 b

Only recently confirmed thanks to NASA's retired Kepler telescope, sub-Neptunes have puzzled astronomers who are eager to grasp their origins and the reason behind their prevalence.

Historically, these planets, larger than Earth yet smaller than gas giants, have been elusive, often hiding behind thick clouds or hazes, which prevent scientists from conducting thorough observations.

A surprising earlier finding was that sub-Neptune atmospheres typically displayed flat, unremarkable transmission spectra – a clue pointing to significant cloud or haze coverage.

TOI-421 b: A New Hope?

Kempton explains the team’s choice to study TOI-421 b: "We believed this planet might differ as some prior data suggested that planets within a specific temperature threshold could be less hazy."