Stellar Flares Unveil Hidden Magnetic Secrets of TRAPPIST-1

A team of astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have achieved a breakthrough in understanding TRAPPIST-1, the famous red dwarf star hosting seven Earth sized planets. By analysing stellar flares, the team discovered that flares cause dark magnetic features on the star’s surface to disappear, creating persistent brightening effects. This represents the first-ever measurement of magnetic feature spectra on an M8 dwarf star.