NASA says James Webb Space Telescope can save the Earth; here is how

tech.hindustantimes.com:

NASA launched the James Webb Space Telescope just days ago and it will reach its final location in less than two week’s time. It will orbit the Sun unlike its iconic predecessor, the Hubble Space Telescope, which orbits the Earth. Also known as the Webb Space Telescope, it is the most advanced space laboratory created in the history of Earth. And once it reaches its final destination, it will tell us about the part of space never seen before. An important part of its mission is to find Venus-like planets in different solar systems to identify the cause and pattern of runaway greenhouse gasses and how they contribute towards creating global warming.

Stephen Kane, an astrophysicist working with UC Riverside is one of the scientists assigned on this mission. Apart from the Webb mission, he is also working with NASA on a mission to Venus which is expected to launch after 2028.

The James Webb Space Telescope was developed by NASA and launched in space on December 25th 2021. It is a much more powerful telescope compared to the Hubble Space Telescope. For instance, Hubble Telescope’s primary mirror is around eight feet in diameter whereas Webb Telescope’s primary mirror is more than 21 feet across. Additionally, instead of operating at optical wavelengths like Hubble Telescope does, James Webb Telescope is designed to see infrared light with extreme sensitivity.

Kane explains that there is a very important reason behind NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope monitoring Venus-like planets.

“Venus could be described as a runaway greenhouse hellscape. It has surface temperatures of up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit, no water, and floats in a nest of sulfuric acid clouds. In my work, I’m trying to answer two questions: 1) how did Venus get to be