Launched in 2021 from Kourou, French Guiana, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the largest space telescope ever built, allowing astronomers to observe faint cosmic objects.

The JWST aims to collect sufficient data during multiple transits to identify spectral absorption features from the thin atmospheres of exoplanets.

However, detecting molecules in these atmospheres during transits is challenging due to the weak signals compared to their brighter host stars.

In 2022, the JWST provided initial observations of rocky exoplanets located in the habitable zone, where conditions could support liquid water.

Among its discoveries, the JWST identified Earth-sized planets orbiting the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, located just 40 light-years away.

In 2024, the JWST detected potential signs of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere of K2-18b, a gas giant situated 124 light-years away.

The atmospheric composition of K2-18b suggests that if life exists there, it would be significantly different from terrestrial life.

Looking ahead to 2025, the JWST may detect the first signs of life outside our solar system, potentially confirming the existence of life on distant exoplanets.