NASA detects methane on distant exoplanet for the first time

In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled the atmospheric secrets of the exoplanet WASP-80 b. 

The telescope observed the distant planet as it passed both in front of and behind its host star, revealing a distinctive spectrum indicative of an atmosphere rich in methane gas and water vapor. 

While water vapor has been previously detected in numerous exoplanets, methane has remained elusive until now, making this finding a significant leap in our understanding of distant planetary atmospheres.

WASP-80 b, classified as a “warm Jupiter” due to its…