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Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Science
- Daily Mirror
New giant planet found in our nearest star system - and it could support life
NASA scientists say the new planet orbits in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star in the Alpha Centauri stellar system - and it could have moons with the potential to support life Thrilled NASA scientists say they have discovered a giant new planet in the nearest star system to Earth that could have moons capable of supporting life. The planet has been found orbiting a star in the Alpha Centauri stellar system by astronomers using NASA 's hi-tech James Webb Space Telescope - and it's located just four lightyears away from Earth. The discovery follows years of scientific focus on Alpha Centauri, which has three stars and is thought to foster some of the best conditions for extra-terrestrial life. Researchers say the new observations from James Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) provide some of the strongest evidence to date of a gas giant orbiting the system's largest star, Alpha Centauri A. If confirmed, the new planet would be the closest planet to Earth that orbits in the habitable zone of a Sun-like star - but because it's gas giant (like Saturn and Jupiter), scientists say it would not be able to support life as we know it. However, it could have a number of moons that are habitable. The similarities between the exoplanet's star and our Sun makes has singled it out as particularly promising object of future study, along with its relative closeness to Earth. The planet was detected just once, in August 2024, but has since evaded the gaze of astronomers. They hope to get another, sharper look when a new NASA telescope, the Grace Roman Space Telescope, begins operating in 2027. Charles Beichman, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the NASA Exoplanet Science Institute at Caltech's IPAC astronomy centre, said: 'With this system being so close to us, any exoplanets found would offer our best opportunity to collect data on planetary systems other than our own. 'Yet, these are incredibly challenging observations to make, even with the world 's most powerful space telescope, because these stars are so bright, close, and move across the sky quickly,'. 'Webb was designed and optimised to find the most distant galaxies in the universe. The operations team at the Space Telescope Science Institute had to come up with a custom observing sequence just for this target, and their extra effort paid off spectacularly.' It comes after a planet with 'striking' similarities to Jupiter was spotted roughly 400 light years away from Earth. The gaseous planet, named TOI-4465 b, is located around 400 light-years from Earth and is around the same size as Jupiter, but with a much smaller orbit. A global team of 24 observers from Britain, the US, Japan, New Zealand, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Austria contributed data, with 21 being amateur stargazers.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
James Webb telescope detects possible new exoplanet just 4 light-years away from Earth
Image: In a stunning breakthrough, astronomers using NASA 's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have found strong evidence of a new exoplanet orbiting Alpha Centauri A , the closest sun-like star to Earth, just 4.37 light-years away. Using its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) and a coronagraph to block stellar glare, JWST captured a faint object believed to be a gas giant within the star's habitable zone . Though not suitable for life as we know it, the potential planet represents a major leap in exoplanetary science and could be the closest directly imaged world outside our solar system. James Webb telescope captures glimpse into a nearby system Alpha Centauri A is part of the Alpha Centauri triple-star system, which also includes Alpha Centauri B and the red dwarf Proxima Centauri . While Proxima has two confirmed planets, including the potentially habitable Proxima b, Alpha Centauri A has long been a target of interest due to its similarities to our own sun. The discovery of a candidate planet orbiting it is not only thrilling; it is historic. What makes this discovery even more compelling is the location of the possible exoplanet: within the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri A. At a distance of two astronomical units from its host star (twice the distance from Earth to the Sun), the gas giant lies in the region where liquid water could exist, at least on moons if it has any. However, as a gas giant, it is unlikely to support life directly. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Learn More Undo Cutting-edge tech behind the discovery The JWST used its Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) along with a coronagraphic mask to suppress the overwhelming light from Alpha Centauri A, revealing the faint signature of the suspected planet. The object is about 10,000 times fainter than its host star, an extraordinary contrast achieved thanks to the telescope's unprecedented sensitivity. If confirmed, this would be the closest exoplanet ever directly imaged around a sun-like star and the first such planet to be observed at this proximity. The discovery hints at the possibility that planetary systems similar to ours may be more common and closer than previously thought. A new era for nearby exploration Scientists are already excited about the opportunities this planet offers. As Charles Beichman of NASA's Exoplanet Science Institute noted, the proximity of Alpha Centauri A makes it one of the best candidates for future in-depth studies. With new instruments and missions on the horizon, this system could become a focal point for the next generation of space exploration. While promising, the object is still considered a planet 'candidate.' Further observation and analysis are needed to confirm its nature. If validated, it would mark a major milestone and open the door to studying exoplanets not just light-years away but potentially within reach of future interstellar probes. From science to sci-fi The discovery has also thrilled science fiction fans, especially since James Cameron's Avatar series is set on Pandora, a lush, habitable moon orbiting a gas giant around Alpha Centauri A. This cinematic connection has long stirred public imagination about what might exist in our cosmic neighborhood. Now, with real scientific data pointing to a massive planet in that same system, the boundary between fiction and possibility feels thinner than ever. While this newfound world is unlikely to host life itself, its presence raises the possibility of moons or other celestial bodies in its orbit that could offer more Earth-like conditions. It also reinforces the cultural and scientific fascination with Alpha Centauri as humanity's first potential step beyond the solar system — a destination for future probes or even interstellar travel concepts like Breakthrough Starshot. With the James Webb Space Telescope continuing to exceed expectations, discoveries like this are no longer confined to science fiction. They are part of a new, unfolding reality — one where humanity's view of the cosmos expands with every image, every pixel, and every distant light revealed.
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Science
- Time of India
James Webb Space Telescope captures stunning ultra deep field image, revealing the universe's earliest galaxies in infrared
The James Webb Space Telescope went back to the same place where the Hubble Telescope took its famous picture called the Ultra Deep Field. JWST's new picture shows galaxies from different times by looking at two small areas of the sky that Hubble first took pictures of in 1995 and 2004. The Hubble Deep Fields were Hubble's deepest views into space, showing the faintest, oldest galaxies visible to it—some more than 13 billion years old, meaning their light traveled for that long to reach Earth, as per the report by Space. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Hubble's deep field showed very old galaxies The Hubble Ultra Deep Field was revisited by Hubble multiple times—in 2009, 2012, and 2014—using near-infrared technology to see even farther and more galaxies, capturing about 10,000 galaxies in a very tiny patch of sky. This tiny patch of sky is only 2.4 arcminutes square, which is less than a tenth of the full Moon's diameter as seen from Earth. However, Hubble has limits. It cannot see the farthest galaxies because their visible light is stretched into infrared light, which Hubble's instruments cannot detect well, according to the report by Space. ALSO READ: AI doom countdown begins: Ex-Google exec warns AI will unleash hell, to wipe out white-collar jobs by 2027 Live Events James Webb Telescope sees farther with infrared light To see farther, the JWST, with its larger 6.5-meter mirror, was used because it can see infrared light better than Hubble. JWST first looked at the Hubble Ultra Deep Field in October 2022 using its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam). Since then, JWST has looked at this field multiple times through the JADES project, and the latest image was taken by JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) using a survey called MIDIS. MIRI's filter called F560W, which detects infrared light between 4.9 and 6.4 micrometres, took the longest exposure of any filter for this image, totaling 41 hours of observation, as stated by Space report. The new picture shows only a small part of the Ultra Deep Field and has about 2,500 galaxies you can see. About 80% of these galaxies are very far away. None of them are the farthest galaxies we know because they are from about 380 million years after the Big Bang, which is 13.4 billion years ago. Farthest Galaxy MoM-z14 and JWST's infrared view The farthest galaxy we know is called MoM-z14. It shows us how things looked about 280 million years after the Big Bang. This galaxy is not in the new Ultra Deep Field picture. When scientists add data from JWST's Near-Infrared Camera, they get a clearer view of these galaxies, which mostly look like tiny dots of light, according to Space report. The image is shown in false color because infrared light is invisible to the human eye. This coloring helps scientists see different features. Hundreds of the red-colored galaxies in the image are either star-forming galaxies covered in dust that absorbs and re-emits starlight in infrared, or are older galaxies with lots of red stars formed early in the universe. ALSO READ: Verizon customers furious as beloved perk gets axed — check your email before September 1 The small greenish-white galaxies represent very distant, high redshift galaxies, mostly from the universe's first billion years. The larger blue and cyan galaxies are closer to us, have low redshifts, and look brighter in the Near-Infrared Camera images than in the Mid-Infrared. Astronomers keep adding more JWST observations to explore how galaxies developed from near the universe's birth to today, as stated by the Space report. Scientists hope to find answers to big cosmic questions, like how supermassive black holes formed, how galaxies formed, and when most stars were created. This work is ongoing, so more exciting discoveries are expected as JWST keeps observing. The study describing these JWST Ultra Deep Field observations was published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. FAQs Q1. What is the James Webb Space Telescope's Ultra Deep Field image? It is a deep space photo showing thousands of distant galaxies using infrared light, taken by JWST in the same area Hubble first studied. Q2. How is JWST different from the Hubble Telescope? JWST can see farther into space by detecting infrared light, allowing it to view older and more distant galaxies than Hubble.
New Straits Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Abang Johari: Federal-state ties remain strong for Sarawak's progress
MIRI: Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg has reiterated that the close cooperation between the state and federal governments would continue in the common interests of both the country and Sarawak. He said the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government, which he leads, appreciates the cooperation currently enjoyed between the state and the federal government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. "In fact, at the federal level, Sarawak is represented by a deputy prime minister, namely Datuk Sri Fadillah Yusof, in addition to other ministers from Sarawak," he said in his speech at the Sarawak Day celebration here yesterday. He expressed confidence that Sarawak's efforts to achieve greater prosperity would not undermine the wider national objective of advancing the country's overall development. He said the increase in Sarawak's revenue, particularly through the Sarawak Sales Tax (SST), would not diminish the country's revenue as the federal government has sufficient avenues to boost national income without burdening the people. Abang Johari said the GPS government would continue to fight for Sarawak's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) through ongoing negotiations with Putrajaya. "Sarawak has successfully regained nine rights under MA63 and the GPS government will continue its efforts to restore all rights that have been eroded over the years," he said. He noted that Sarawak started as a state with many shortcomings and widespread poverty, especially in rural areas, during the formation of Malaysia. "Now we are grateful that Sarawak's economy has shown very encouraging growth," he said, adding that last year Sarawak recorded its highest ever revenue of RM14 billion compared to RM13.3 billion in 2023. He said this year he had presented the largest budget in Sarawak's history amounting to RM15.8 billion, opening up opportunities for a more inclusive economy. "Under the powers provided by the Federal Constitution, the state has begun to enjoy more of its oil and gas revenues through the SST imposed on petroleum products as well as through profit sharing between Petronas and Petros," he said. The premier said the World Bank had recognised Sarawak as a high-income region for three consecutive years since 2022 based on a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of RM73,100 (US$17,000) in 2024, a figure that surpasses the threshold of RM63,800 (US$15,000) set by the bank. He said this status had placed Sarawak in fourth position after the Kuala Lumpur and Labuan and Penang, surpassing Selangor. He said the state government would continue to ensure Sarawak's resources are given added value through the creation of downstream industries, particularly in the oil and gas sector, guided by the long-term Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR). He expressed confidence that when fully implemented within 10 years the SGR would attract investments worth RM300 billion and generate RM120 billion in output from the product and service chain. "New industries will also be created, especially in the renewable energy sector, to generate up to 15,000 megawatts of energy by 2035, not only for domestic consumption but also for export to Asean countries," he said.
Yomiuri Shimbun
04-07-2025
- Science
- Yomiuri Shimbun
TWA 7b: James Webb Space Telescope Discovers Its 1st Exoplanet
PARIS (AFP-Jiji) — The James Webb Space Telescope has discovered its first exoplanet, astronomers said on June 25, capturing rare direct images of the relatively small world in the Earth's galactic backyard. The telescope, which can see farther into the universe than anything before it, has turbocharged the search for planets beyond the Solar System since coming online in 2022. Until now, however, its deep gaze has mostly been used to probe already known exoplanets — to find out key information such as the atmospheric composition — rather than tracking down new worlds. The discovery of exoplanet TWA 7b, revealed in a study in the journal Nature, 'represents a first for the telescope,' France's CNRS research center said in a statement. The large majority of the nearly 6,000 exoplanets found so far have been identified from the light they blot out when they pass in front of their star, rather than from direct images of the planet. Webb 'has spent an enormous amount of time observing planets that have never been directly imaged,' lead study author Anne-Marie Lagrange of the Paris Observatory told AFP. 'Blinded by light' Capturing direct images of faraway planets is difficult because they are 'very faint' due to a lack of heat, Lagrange said. Even worse, she added, 'we're blinded by the light of the star they orbit.' But Webb has a way to get around the problem. An attachment to Webb's MIRI instrument called a coronagraph masks the star, creating an effect similar to a solar eclipse. The telescope's infrared vision can then peer through and spot the planet. Astronomers pointed Webb at the star TWA 7, which is around a hundred light years from Earth — relatively nearby in the universe. The star, which was first spotted by the Hubble space telescope in 1999, was thought to be a promising target for two reasons. It is just 6.4 million years old — a baby compared to the Sun's 4.5 billion years — and still surrounded by a massive disc of gas and dust where planets are thought to form. And from the direction of Earth, the disc is seen from above, giving a good view of its rings. The three rings around the star, which stretch more than 100 times the distance separating the Sun and Earth, had previously been spotted by the Very Large Telescope in Chile. But inside an otherwise empty section of the second ring, the Webb telescope detected something particularly bright. Astronomers ruled out that the light was coming from an object at the edge of the Solar System, or from a distant galaxy behind the star. That could mean only that the light source was a relatively small and cold planet, with a mass at least 10 times lighter than any other exoplanet directly imaged so far, according to the study. Hunt for smaller worlds The researchers estimated that the planet's mass was similar to that of Saturn, a gas giant that weighs only a third of Jupiter, the biggest planet in the Solar System. Webb has increased the ability to detect exoplanets via direct images by a factor of 10, Lagrange said. That is important because smaller, rocky planets similar to Earth or Mars are the ultimate target in the search for habitable worlds outside of the Solar System. Lagrange said she would be delighted to discover 'Earth-like planets' one day. But she said astronomers needed to study all kinds of planets — and to understand how planetary systems form — to know whether the life-hosting Solar System is unique. In the future, astronomers expect the Webb telescope will be able to spot planets even smaller than TWA 7b. But directly capturing images of faraway worlds similar to Earth will require even more telescopic power, such as from the Extremely Large Telescope that is scheduled to come online in Chile in 2028.
