Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Scientists are studying young exoplanets that formed 300 million years ago, around the time dinosaurs roamed Earth, unlocking clues about planetary birth and evolution.
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The KRONOS program has secured 154 hours on the James Webb Space Telescope to analyze seven exoplanets’ atmospheres, searching for key chemical signatures.
When exoplanets pass in front of their stars, starlight filters through their atmospheres, revealing fingerprints of water, methane, and carbon dioxide—clues to their formation.
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To interpret these signals, scientists are using 22 million hours of supercomputer time to create the most detailed models of planetary atmospheres ever attempted.
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KRONOS is bridging the gap between theory and observation, helping scientists understand how planets cool, stabilize, and chemically evolve over time.
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Though KRONOS begins with seven planets, researchers plan to expand their models to include all 70 exoplanets observed by JWST, mapping their diverse atmospheres.
From massive, scorching gas giants to small, temperate Earth-like worlds, this study will provide the first uniform analysis of exoplanets at different stages of evolution.
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By analyzing young planets’ atmospheres, KRONOS could reveal conditions for habitability, offering insights into whether some could one day sustain life.
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With JWST and supercomputers working together, scientists are redefining planetary science, bringing us closer than ever to understanding how planets—and possibly life—form.