Unlocking Exoplanet Mysteries with Basalt Signatures: A Gateway to Discovering Water Beyond Earth

**Cornell scientists** are pioneering a library of basalt-based spectral signatures, which could unveil the compositions of planets outside our solar system and potentially reveal water evidence on those planets. Basalts, formed when planetary mantles melt, are key geological recorders. Researchers, including Esteban Gazel and Emily First, study how minerals record formation processes and their spectra, especially focusing on those detectable by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Given their prevalence in the universe, basalts offer insight into exoplanets' geological diversity. By measuring emissivity of basaltic samples, scientists aim to discern whether exoplanets had interacting water, forming distinct hydrous minerals like amphibole. The research utilizes spectral modeling, exemplified by the super Earth exoplanet LHS 3844b, and explores a wide range of basaltic rocky exoplanets for JWST's potential analysis. This study transitions exoplanetary exploration from isolated chemical observations to comprehensive analyses of mineralogical and bulk chemical compositions.