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Extraterrestrial life needs the right atmosphere. This planet 40 light-years away might fit the bill, scientists say
A rocky, Earth-size planet located in our Milky Way galaxy may have an atmosphere around it, according to new research, raising the possibility that it could also have liquid water on its surface and could therefore support life.
In two separate papers published Monday in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, astronomers zeroed in on the TRAPPIST-1 system, which consists of seven rocky planets that orbit a single star. Both studies outlined initial results from observations by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, suggesting that one planet in particular, known as TRAPPIST-1e, may have a nitrogen-rich atmosphere like Earth’s, though follow-up studies are needed to confirm the discovery.
The results are an important step in the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life in the solar system and beyond.
This week, NASA announced that a rock sample collected on Mars may contain evidence of ancient microbial life. Present-day Mars has a thin atmosphere mostly made up of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon gases, but the Red Planet is thought to have had a thicker atmosphere billions of years ago, when liquid water flowed on its surface.
Scientists have long held that water is an essential ingredient for life.
To keep water in liquid form, rather than it evaporating instantly into space, a planet or moon needs to have an atmosphere. That makes the search for exoplanet atmospheres one of the most tantalizing in the field of astronomy.
“Ultimately, we want to get to the point where we find a planet, and huzzah, we see a molecule that can only be produced by life,” said Ryan MacDonald, an exoplanet astronomer at the University of St Andrews in Scotland and a co-author of both studies. “But you need to have an atmosphere, so what we’ve been working on first is to find planets that have atmospheres.”
The TRAPPIST-1 system, which is 40 light-years away from Earth, has been widely studied since it was discovered in 2016 because several of the planets could have conditions suitable to support extraterrestrial life.
Each light year is approximately 6 trillion miles.
TRAPPIST-1e, in particular, is thought to orbit its star in the theoretical “habitable zone,” a distance that is not too close for it to be hellishly hot, and not too far to be icy cold, but rather just right for liquid water to exist on the surface.
For the new studies, astronomers used NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to observe four “transits” of TRAPPIST-1e, or times when the planet passed in front of its star. The telescope did not directly see an atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1e, but rather it measured how the exoplanet absorbed light to figure out what, if anything, surrounds the planet.
Much like a prism, light can be separated into different bands of color on a rainbow spectrum, and how certain colors are blocked or filtered can be telltale signatures of specific atoms or molecules of gas.
If certain colors are absorbed, for instance, it can suggest high concentrations of carbon dioxide. Other changes in color can hint at different chemical properties, including the presence of hydrogen, oxygen, methane or nitrogen.
“If we see no variation in color, then the planet is probably just a bare rock,” MacDonald said. “A bare rock doesn’t care if you shine red light or blue light on it. It will just block them all equally.”
In four transits, the researchers did not find evidence of a hydrogen-rich atmosphere around TRAPPIST-1e. Nor did they see signs that its potential atmosphere is dominated by carbon dioxide. The Webb telescope’s observations, however, do hint that its atmosphere could be rich in nitrogen.
“This is an exciting step and it really helps us narrow down the possibilities of an atmosphere that is perhaps more Earth-like,” said Caroline Piaulet-Ghorayeb, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Chicago who was not involved with the new studies.
Earth’s own atmosphere contains high concentrations of nitrogen gas. Titan, one of the moons around Saturn, also has an atmosphere that is mostly nitrogen. NASA has said that Titan likely harbors a vast underground ocean, which could make it habitable, but the moon’s methane-filled environment would mean that any life that does exist there would be very different from life on Earth.
Piaulet-Ghorayeb separately was the lead author of a study published last month in The Astrophysical Journal that focused on a different planet in the TRAPPIST-1 system: TRAPPIST-1d, the third planet from the star that also orbits within the habitable zone. That study found no evidence of molecules that are common in Earth’s atmosphere, such as water, carbon dioxide or methane.
Studying these celestial bodies come with significant challenges.
The TRAPPIST-1 star is small but extremely active, which creates a lot of background noise for researchers to sift through. MacDonald and his colleagues, for instance, spent more than a year analyzing data from the Webb telescope and trying to differentiate chemical signatures coming from TRAPPIST-1e and its star.
To confirm the presence of an atmosphere, MacDonald and his colleagues are planning to study TRAPPIST-1e during 15 more transits in the coming years.
Studies are also forthcoming for three other planets that are farther out in the system, TRAPPIST-1f, TRAPPIST-1g and TRAPPIST-1h, he said.
The research should help scientists inch closer to answering some of the most enduring questions about exoplanets and the search for life.
“We haven’t yet convincingly found an atmosphere on any rocky planet outside of the solar system, which makes studying and searching for atmospheres on temperate planets extremely exciting,” Piaulet-Ghorayeb said. “But there’s a lot of work to do.”
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Where to watch 2025 WNBA playoffs: TV channel, live stream, bracket, schedule, scores after four games Sunday
The first day of the WNBA playoffs didn’t see any real upsets, but it was certainly not uneventful. The Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream took 1-0 leads in their respective series with decisive victories at the start of Sunday’s quadruple-header. Then we got our first overtime of this postseason as the New York Liberty pulled off a win over the Phoenix Mercury, and later in the evening the Las Vegas Aces put on a defensive clinic against the Seattle Storm.
The action will resume on Tuesday with the first batch of Game 2s.
The Minnesota Lynx entered the playoffs as the No. 1 seed after being the WNBA’s most dominant team throughout the 44-game regular season. The Lynx, looking for the fifth championship in team history and their first since 2017, will have home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.
The New York Liberty, the reigning champs, will have no such luxury as injuries and inconsistency led them to the No. 5 seed in the bracket. They are facing the Phoenix Mercury in the first round, who won’t be an easy opponent as Alyssa Thomas fights to extend her outstanding season.
Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Aces were not playing like a championship contender early on, but A’ja Wilson made a strong push for her fourth MVP award by leading her team to a 16-game winning streak to close out the regular season with the No. 2 seed. Becky Hammon’s group is chasing its third championship in four years.
The Atlanta Dream have also exceeded expectations with successful offseason moves that included the addition of star veteran players Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner. As for the Indiana Fever, they reached the playoffs last year for the first time since 2016 and are back again despite multiple injuries to key players — including 2024 Rookie of the Year Caitlin Clark, who only appeared in 13 games in 2025 before announcing her season was over earlier this month.
Below is a look at the first-round matchups and the full schedule for the 2025 playoffs.
WNBA playoff bracket
Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports
The full playoff bracket was set after the action on Thursday. Here are the four first-round matchups:
- No. 1 Lynx vs. No. 8 Valkyries
- No. 2 Aces vs. No. 7 Storm
- No. 3 Dream vs. No. 6 Fever
- No. 4 Mercury vs. No. 5 Liberty
Teams will play a best-of-three series in the first round, a best-of-five series in the semifinals, and — in a new change this year — a best-of-seven affair in the Finals.
In 2024, the first round had a 2-1 format, which meant the higher seed got the first two games at home, while the lower seed only got to host if they made it to Game 3. This year it will be a 1-1-1 format, with Games 1 and 3 hosted by the higher seed while the opponent hosts Game 2.
First-round schedule, scores (best-of-three)
All times Eastern
Sunday, Sept. 14
Tuesday, Sept. 16
- Game 2: No. 3 Dream at No. 6 Fever, 7:30 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
- Game 2: No. 2 Aces at No. 7 Storm, 9:30 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Wednesday, Sept. 17
- Game 2: No. 4 Mercury at No. 5 Liberty, 7:30 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
- Game 2: No. 2 Lynx at No. 7 Valkyries, 9:30 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Thursday, Sept. 18
- *Game 3: No. 6 Fever at No. 3 Dream, TBD — ESPN2/fubo
- *Game 3: No. 7 Storm at No. 2 Aces, TBD — ESPN2/fubo
Friday, Sept. 19
- *Game 3: No. 7 Valkyries at No. 2 Lynx, TBD — ESPN2/fubo
- *Game 3: No. 4 Liberty at No. 5 Mercury, TBD — ESPN2/fubo
Semifinals schedule (best-of-five)
Sunday, Sept. 21
Tuesday, Sept. 23
Friday, Sept. 26
Sunday, Sept. 28
Tuesday, Sept. 30
- *Game 5: TBD vs. TBD, TBD
- *Game 5: TBD vs. TBD, TBD
Finals schedule (best-of-seven)
Friday, Oct. 3
- Game 1, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Sunday, Oct. 5
- Game 2, 3 p.m. — ABC/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 8
- Game 3, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Friday, Oct. 10
- Game 4, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Sunday, Oct. 12
- *Game 5, 3 p.m. — ABC/fubo
Wednesday, Oct. 15
- *Game 6, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
Friday, Oct. 17
- *Game 7, 8 p.m. — ESPN/fubo
* If necessary
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Emmys Red Carpet Photos: See Looks From Sydney Sweeney, Jenna Ortega, Adam Brody and More
Stars have begun arriving at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles for the 2025 Emmy Awards.
Although the Creative Arts Emmys were held on last weekend, the biggest awards are yet to be given out during a live, prime-time ceremony hosted by the comedian Nate Bargatze. With 27 nominations — the most of any show this year — “Severance” is entering in a strong position, but HBO favorites like “The Pitt” and “The White Lotus,” as well as the “Star Wars” spinoff series “Andor,” are also strong contenders for recognition.
But before that gets underway, here’s what stars from the year’s buzziest shows wore to walk the red carpet on Sunday.
Selena Gomez of “Only Murders in the Building” in Louis Vuitton.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Michelle Williams, nominated for “Dying for Sex,” in Chanel.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Readers’ Top Looks
Noah Wyle, nominated for “The Pitt,” in a custom Figs tuxedo.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Sarah Paulson, a presenter, in Marc Jacobs.Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Hunter SchaferPatrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Javier Bardem, nominated for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.”Daniel Cole/Reuters
Cate Blanchett, nominated for “Disclaimer.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Leighton Meester in Prada.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Adam Brody, nominated for “Nobody Wants This,” in Prada.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Leslie Bibb of “The White Lotus” in Giorgio Armani Privé.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Bowen Yang, nominated for “Saturday Night Live,” in Ami Paris.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Jude Law, a presenter.Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Megan Stalter of “Hacks.”Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Harrison Ford, nominated for “Shrinking,” and Calista Flockhart, in Giorgio Armani.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Scarlett Johansson in Prada.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Ben Stiller, nominated for his direction of “Severance.”Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
James Marsden, nominated for “Paradise,” in Ralph Lauren Purple Label.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Jake Gyllenhaal, nominated for “Presumed Innocent,” in Prada.Jae C. Hong/Invision, via Associated Press
Hannah Einbinder, nominated for “Hacks,” in Louis Vuitton.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Seth Rogen, nominated for “The Studio.”Savion Washington/Getty Images
Britt Lower, nominated for “Severance,” in Calvin Klein Collection.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Colin Farrell (right), nominated for “The Penguin,” and his son Henry Farrell.Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Sam Rockwell, nominated for “The White Lotus,” in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Chloë Sevigny, nominated for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” in Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Colin Jost in Prada.Jae C. Hong/Invision, via Associated Press
Kristen Bell, nominated for “Nobody Wants This,” in Giorgio Armani Privé.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Adam Scott, nominated for “Severance.”Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Rashida Jones, nominated for “Black Mirror,” in Dior.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Sheryl Lee Ralph, nominated for “Abbott Elementary.”Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Jenny Slate, nominated for “Dying for Sex.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Mariska Hargitay, a presenter, in Elie Saab.Savion Washington/Getty Images
Nate Bargatze, host of the 77th Emmy Awards and a nominee for best variety special, in Canali.Jae C. Hong/Invision, via Associated Press
Brittany SnowPatrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Elizabeth Banks, a presenter, in Rabanne.Jae C. Hong/Invision, via Associated Press
Kathryn Hahn, nominated for “The Studio.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Ashley Walters, nominated for “Adolescence.”David Swanson/Reuters
Catherine Zeta-Jones, a presenter, in Yara Shoemaker.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Aimee Lou Wood, nominated for “The White Lotus.”Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Sharon Horgan, nominated for “Bad Sisters.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Meghann Fahy, nominated for “Sirens.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Stephen Colbert of “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” a nominee for best variety talk series.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Jason Isaacs, nominated for “The White Lotus,” in Giorgio Armani.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Jean Smart, nominated for “Hacks.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Jason Segel, nominated for “Shrinking.”Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Alexis Bledel in Marmar Halim.Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Ebon Moss-Bachrach (right), nominated for “The Bear” and wearing Prada, and Yelena Yemchuk.Jae C. Hong/Invision, via Associated Press
Tramell Tillman, nominated for “Severance.”Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Nathan Fielder, nominated for “The Rehearsal.”Daniel Cole/Reuters
Ruth Negga, nominated for “Presumed Innocent,” in Prada.David Swanson/Reuters
Tyler James Williams of “Abbott Elementary” in Prada.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Brian Tyree Henry, nominated for “Dope Thief.”Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Leanne Morgan, a presenter.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Ted DansonRichard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Janelle James, nominated for “Abbott Elementary.”Savion Washington/Getty Images
Zach Cherry, nominated for “Severance.”Daniel Cole/Reuters
Jessica Williams, nominated for “Shrinking.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Rob Delaney, nominated for “Dying for Sex.”Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Abby Elliott of “The Bear” in Honor.Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Shawn Hatosy, nominated for “The Pitt.”Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Michelle Monaghan of “The White Lotus” in Rabanne.Daniel Cole/Reuters
Jesse Williams, a presenter, in Giorgio Armani.Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Natasha Rothwell, nominated for “The White Lotus.”Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Liza Colón-Zayas, nominated for “The Bear.”Daniel Cole/Reuters
Cooper Koch, nominated for “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story,” in Calvin Klein Collection.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
HalseyFrazer Harrison/Getty Images
Evan Peters, a presenter, in Dior.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Lisa Ann Walter of “Abbott Elementary.”Jae C. Hong/Invision, via Associated Press
Jeff Probst, nominated for “Survivor.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Gayle KingDanny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Stephen Graham, nominated for “Adolescence.”Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Bridget Everett of “Somebody Somewhere.”Savion Washington/Getty Images
Julianne Nicholson, nominated for both “Hacks” and “Paradise.”Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Harry JowseyFrazer Harrison/Getty Images
Hiroyuki Sanada, a presenter, in Giorgio Armani.Jae C. Hong/Invision, via Associated Press
Carrie Coon, nominated for “The White Lotus,” in Chanel.Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Justin Hartley, a presenter, in Giorgio Armani.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Jen Statsky, nominated for “Hacks.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Sarah Bock of “Severance.”Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Kathy Bates, nominated for “Matlock.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Gwendoline Christie, nominated for “Severance,” in Haider Ackermann’s Tom Ford.Frederic J. Brown/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Lauren Graham, a presenter.Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Lorne Michaels, nominated for “Saturday Night Live.”Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Michael Urie, nominated for “Shrinking.”Daniel Cole/Reuters
Matty Matheson of “The Bear.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Chase Sui Wonders of “The Studio” in Thom Browne.Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Chris Perfetti of “Abbott Elementary” in Tanner Fletcher.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Lucia Aniello, nominated for her direction of “Hacks.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Katherine LaNasa, nominated for “The Pitt.”Jordan Strauss/Invision, via Associated Press
Paul W. Downs, nominated for “Hacks,” in Wales Bonner.Daniel Cole/Reuters
Keri Russell, nominated for “The Diplomat,” in Giorgio Armani Privé.Patrick T. Fallon/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Jon Gries of “The White Lotus.”Savion Washington/Getty Images
Phaedra Parks of “The Traitors.”Daniel Cole/Reuters
Owen Cooper, nominated for “Adolescence,” in GapStudio.Savion Washington/Getty Images
Keyla Monterroso Mejia of “The Studio.”Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Gary Oldman (left), nominated for “Slow Horses,” and Gisele Schmidt.Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Andrew Law, nominated for “Hacks.”Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Charlotte Le Bon of “The White Lotus.”Richard Shotwell/Invision, via Associated Press
Tayme Thapthimthong of “The White Lotus.”Danny Moloshok/Invision, via Associated Press
Sam Nivola of “The White Lotus,” in Dior.Daniel Cole/Reuters
You’ve reached your limit of 6 looks.
This is Twenty One Pilots in its purest form. Opener “City Walls” is a five-minute litmus test, with gigantic “oh-woah” hooks, soaring choruses, fuzzy bass tones, overdriven drums, and yes, rapping. It’s also pure fan service; the deeply ludicrous $1 million music video frequently calls back to past work and the song itself interpolates their single “Holding on to You.” It’s fascinating to hear a Christian-adjacent band reprise the words “entertain my faith” as the video depicts Clancy’s submission to a religious cult, but this isn’t the band to handle those implications.
Having once contributed to the Suicide Squad soundtrack, Pilots now convey the bubbly energy of James Gunn’s Superman reboot. You don’t need to know about the Bishops’ necromancing powers to enjoy the frenetic snowboarding-game breakbeat and maniacal vocal processing of “The Contract.” There are dumb-clever antics throughout: “Garbage” teases an uplifting “Something Just Like This” piano part before Joseph blurts out “I feel like garbage!” The song “Rawfear” speeds up on the line “never slowing down,” then abruptly returns to the original tempo—because he can’t escape the cycle. There’s hardly a breather until “Cottonwood,” a loving tribute to Joseph’s grandfather, and the meditative closer, “Intentions.” There’s also “Downstairs,” a dolled-up demo from their pre-major label days, but the vestigial self-seriousness feels out of place on an album like this.
The most engaging motif in the Pilots catalog remains Joseph’s complex relationship with his fans. On Vessel standout (give or take a reggae break) “Guns for Hands,” he felt responsible for their mental health as his own deteriorated. On Trench ballad “Neon Gravestones,” he cautioned them not to glorify his death should he one day lose his battle with depression. The tension comes to a head on Breach. Earlier this year, somebody briefly stole a kick drum from Dun’s kit at a concert, and throughout “Center Mass,” the band samples another fan’s cautionary “I really don’t think you should take that!” On “Drum Show,” seemingly in response to this fiasco, Joseph pays tribute to his burnt-out bandmate, who’s “stuck between a rock and a home, two places he does not wanna go.” When Joseph says, “This has not been interesting in a while” on “One Way,” a fundamentally earnest band fully admits to disillusionment.
Twenty One Pilots’ pure pop songs—like Scaled and Icy’s “Shy Away”—are often their best, which makes their ongoing attempts at hip-hop all the more frustrating. Joseph once gave Zane Lowe a playlist of his greatest influences, and not only was Ben Gibbard on it twice, the only rapper was Matisyahu. On Breach, they sound like they maybe gave GNX a passing listen (the call-and-response on “Center Mass” is very “Reincarnated”), but their engagement with the genre remains shallow. No one has ever sounded less convincing than Tyler “gangstas don’t cry, therefore I’m Mr. Misty Eyed” Joseph singing about “empty Uzis” on “Rawfear.” But when they get the balance right, they wind up with some of their best material to date: “Mass” starts with a suitably moody verse over a two-chord vamp and ends with a genuinely exciting double-time outro.
Right now it’s hard to imagine a cultural re-evaluation for Twenty One Pilots, the way people who grew up in the ’00s eventually gave My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park (both obvious influences) their flowers. But seeing the likes of MGK attempt a similar style without the same ambition puts the duo’s merit into perspective, and at least Pilots are thoroughly committed to their uncool niche. They’d be more respected if they did away with the rapping entirely, but that would fundamentally change what this band is and why it got this far. As for poor Clancy, he fails to break the cycle and, in a Matrix Reloaded-esque twist, the rebels must find another “Clancy” to continue the fight. It’s a surprisingly sobering ending: No one here truly transcends their limitations, but it’s only a matter of time before they try again.
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