Revealing Hidden Worlds: The Stunning Rise Of Exoplanet Discoveries
By Mariane Daher
Introduction: A New Era in Astronomy
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), launched in 2021, revolutionized space science. Acting like glasses for astronomers, its powerful infrared imaging has unveiled stunning new details about exoplanets—planets outside our solar system.
In just a few years, JWST has helped discover dozens of new exoplanets, ranging from super-dense rocky worlds to giant gas planets. But how are these distant planets detected? And what can they teach us about the search for extraterrestrial life?