Overview

• Two Astrophysical Journal Letters from the JWST‑TST DREAMS program present early transmission spectra of TRAPPIST‑1e based on four 2023 JWST NIRSpec/PRISM transits.
• The data fit both a bare rock and a heavier, secondary atmosphere scenario, so researchers stop short of claiming a definitive detection.
• Cloudy, primary hydrogen‑dominated atmospheres are excluded at better than 3σ, and CO2‑rich Venus‑ or Mars‑like atmospheres are weakly disfavored.
• Strong and variable stellar activity from the TRAPPIST‑1 red dwarf complicated the signal, prompting year‑long corrections and new visit‑to‑visit mitigation methods.
• Teams are acquiring roughly 15 additional transits to reach nearly 20 in total and will use comparative and secondary‑eclipse strategies, including planet b as a control, to confirm any atmosphere and evaluate prospects for surface liquid water.