JWST Detects CO2 Atmosphere on Exoplanet L 98-59 b

The exoplanet L 98-59 b, approximately half the mass of Earth, may be the most volcanically active planet known to astronomers. Astrophysicist Aaron Bello-Arufe from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and colleagues analyzed data from the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing evidence of a carbon dioxide atmosphere on L 98-59 b. Their findings are prepared for publication in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The planet's proximity to its star necessitates atmospheric retention. If carbon dioxide is confirmed in L 98-59 b's atmosphere, its quantity would suggest volcanism eight times more intense than on Jupiter's moon Io, indicating magma oceans. Further observations are needed to confirm or refute the hypothesis. If validated, L 98-59 b would mark the first instance of atmosphere detection around a rocky exoplanet, noted Tobias Meier from Oxford University. He added that it would be strange if there were no other elements in this atmosphere.