Scientists detect carbon dioxide on distant exoplanets

Scientists have made an important discovery by detecting carbon dioxide on four giant exoplanets located 130 light-years from Earth. This is the first time CO2 has been observed on a planet outside our solar system. The observations were made using the James Webb Space Telescope and were detailed in a recent issue of The Astronomical Journal. The four exoplanets belong to the HR 8799 system. The findings suggest that these planets formed similarly to Jupiter and Saturn, with solid cores developing slowly over time. William Balmer, an astrophysicist at Johns Hopkins University, said that the presence of carbon dioxide indicates a significant amount of heavier elements in their atmospheres. This supports the idea that these planets formed through a process called core accretion. HR 8799 is relatively young, having formed about 30 million years ago, compared to our solar system's 4.6 billion years. Because these planets are still hot from their formation, they emit a lot of infrared light, which provides insights into how they formed. Balmer explained that studying these planets helps us understand our own solar system and its potential for life. Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in the development of life on Earth, making it a key target in the search for extraterrestrial life. It is believed that gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn formed when icy particles in space came together to create solid cores. Laurent Pueyo, an astronomer involved in the study, emphasized the need for more observations to explore how common this formation process is among other long-period planets. The James Webb Space Telescope has proven its ability to directly analyze the chemical composition of atmospheres, rather than just inferring it from starlight. Its coronagraphs, which block starlight, allowed scientists to study the infrared light from these distant planets. Balmer noted that understanding the formation and behavior of these giant planets is essential for learning about the potential habitability of Earth-like planets in the future.