"New Techniques Emerge to Trace Water and Signs of Life on Distant Exoplanets"

Researchers from MIT and the University of Birmingham have developed a new method to assess the habitability of exoplanets by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide in their atmospheres. Lower levels of CO2 compared to neighboring planets may indicate the presence of liquid water and potential life, as CO2 can be absorbed by oceans or lifeforms. This method, which is immediately applicable with current technology, could also detect biosignatures like oxygen and ozone, offering a renewed hope for identifying life on exoplanets with telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope.