Title: Utah Scientist Contributes to Discovery of Carbon Dioxide on Exoplanet
Subtitle: Assistant professor at Utah Valley University, Joshua Lothringer, part of breakthrough exoplanet exploration team
Date: [Current Date]
By: Logan Stefanich
Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
OREM — In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of scientists led by Utah Valley University’s Joshua Lothringer has detected the presence of carbon dioxide on a hot Jupiter exoplanet located 700 light years away from Earth. The finding has significant implications for future planet exploration efforts, particularly in search of potentially habitable planets.
Lothringer, now an assistant professor in the physics department at Utah Valley University, expressed his astonishment at being part of such a remarkable breakthrough. “When you put it like that, it kind of gives me the chills, a little bit,” Lothringer said.
The investigation was conducted by an international collaborative team comprising over 100 scientists from various academic organizations. The team utilized NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, providing Lothringer with a unique opportunity to cherish in his scientific career. The telescope was focused on a distant star, and its light was measured over time to observe variations. This gradual dimming suggested the presence of an exoplanet casting a shadow as it orbited the star, thus confirming the existence of a hot Jupiter known as WASP-39b.
An exoplanet refers to any planet outside of our solar system, and there are currently over 5,000 known exoplanets. By using infrared cameras, which detect changes in the light spectrum, Lothringer’s role in the team was to determine the presence of carbon dioxide on the exoplanet. The gas absorbs a red infrared light that is invisible to the human eye. Through meticulous analysis and complex computer programs, Lothringer and his colleagues were able to document the exoplanet’s light spectrum.
“This is kind of the first time that we were able to use this brand new telescope to see this kind of spectral feature we had never actually been able to see before,” Lothringer explained. “But now we can with (James Webb Space Telescope) and we can apply it to, hopefully, exciting smaller systems.”
The findings on WASP-39b, deemed too hot and inhospitable due to temperatures of approximately 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, lay the groundwork for further exploration of potential habitable planets. Lothringer encouraged aspiring scientists to embrace challenges and not to be deterred by the complexity of math or any other obstacles.
Looking ahead, Lothringer mentioned NASA’s plans for the Habitable Worlds Observatory, anticipated to launch in the 2040s. He underlined that a child growing up today may find themselves in a similar position in a few decades, contributing to groundbreaking research on potential habitable worlds.
As the search for life beyond Earth continues, Lothringer’s work represents a significant step forward in the field of exoplanet exploration. With future advancements and innovative technologies, humanity may one day find itself on the cusp of discovering habitable planets and potentially answering the age-old question of whether we are alone in the universe.
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