Space Exploration
How JWST Reads Exoplanet Air: Transmission Spectroscopy and the Hunt for Biosignature Gases
The James Webb Space Telescope analyzes exoplanet atmospheres using transmission spectroscopy, detecting molecules by observing how starlight filters through an atmosphere during a transit. While powerful for identifying potential biosignature gases like methane or dimethyl sulfide, confirmation requires ruling out non-biological origins.
Daron Krikorian·October 19, 2026
