"New Criteria for Detecting Life: Carbon-Lite Atmospheres on Exoplanets"

Scientists propose using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to detect "carbon-lite" atmospheres on exoplanets as an indicator of liquid water and potential habitability. By comparing carbon dioxide levels in the atmospheres of planets within the same system, researchers can identify those with significant carbon depletion, suggesting active water cycles and possible oceans. Additionally, the presence of ozone could indicate not just habitability but also the existence of life. The TRAPPIST-1 system, with several Earth-like planets in the habitable zone, is a prime candidate for this research. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, offers a new roadmap for finding habitable and potentially inhabited exoplanets using JWST.