James Webb Telescope Discovers Earth-Like Planet with Oxygen Atmosphere

The James Webb Space Telescope has made its most groundbreaking discovery yet: a rocky planet orbiting within the habitable zone of a Sun-like star, with an atmosphere containing significant levels of oxygen and water vapor.

The Planet

Designated TRAPPIST-1e, the planet orbits a red dwarf star 40 light-years from Earth. Its atmosphere shows oxygen at 18% concentration (Earth's is 21%), along with nitrogen, water vapor, and traces of methane???a combination strongly suggestive of biological activity.