Technologies

NASA’s Webb Telescope Paints Detailed Picture of a Nearby ‘Hot Saturn’ Exoplanet

WASP-39b isn’t much of a destination, but it could light the way toward learning about more habitable worlds.

Nearby exoplanet WASP-39b is broiling hot and certainly not a vacation destination for humans, but emerging details about its atmosphere coming courtesy of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have astronomers amped over what could soon be revealed about other worlds.

«We observed the exoplanet with several instruments that together cover a broad swath of the infrared spectrum and a panoply of chemical fingerprints inaccessible until JWST,» astronomer and research team member Natalie Batalha said in a statement. «Data like these are a game changer.»

Earlier research based on Webb observations already revealed the first clear detection of carbon dioxide at an exoplanet on WASP-39b. Now a raft of five new academic studies out Tuesday provides a more comprehensive profile of what’s cooking in the sky over this world 700 light-years from Earth, or just around the corner on the cosmic scale of the universe.

In addition to CO2, Webb detected water, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, sodium and potassium in the atmosphere. The sulphur dioxide is particularly interesting, because it is known to be created by photochemical reactions between light and water.

«This is the first time we have seen concrete evidence of photochemistry — chemical reactions initiated by energetic stellar light — on exoplanets,» said Shang-Min Tsai, a researcher at the University of Oxford and lead author of one of the papers, which has been submitted to the journal Nature.

The planet also appears to be less cloudy than Saturn, which is pretty much always covered in dense cloud decks. The weather on WASP-39b, by contrast, occasionally calls for just patchy clouds.

The large size of the planet, comparable to Saturn, and its proximity to its star — it orbits closer than Mercury does to our own sun — already suggest that nothing like life as we know it could survive on WASP-39b. But the new results show promise for Webb’s abilities that could be applied to more Earth-like planets such as those in the Trappist-1 system.

«We are going to be able to see the big picture of exoplanet atmospheres,» said team meber Laura Flagg, a researcher at Cornell University. «It is incredibly exciting to know that everything is going to be rewritten. That is one of the best parts of being a scientist.»

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube