The universe speaks in radiation, but we only see a sliver.
In short: Human eyes are tuned to a tiny sliver of the electromagnetic spectrum. To see the rest, we build machines that act as time machines. By capturing light that travels across billions of years, telescopes like Hubble and Webb allow us to witness the universe's earliest epochs.
Light is electromagnetic radiation that spans a massive range of wavelengths. While humans can only see a narrow band—from about 400 nanometres for violet light to 700 nanometres for red light—the universe is filled with other forms of radiation. This includes infrared, ultraviolet, gamma rays, and radio waves. Because almost all information about the rest of the universe reaches Earth as electromagnetic radiation, astronomers must use different tools to 'see' different parts of this spectrum.
Space telescopes are essential because they operate above Earth's light-distorting atmosphere. Since its 1990 launch, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided clear, detailed views of galaxies, stars, and nebulae. Hubble's observations were pivotal in confirming the existence of black holes in galaxy cores, measuring exoplanet atmospheres, and verifying the accelerating expansion of the universe—a discovery that earned a 2011 Nobel Prize. It has also helped determine the age of the universe and the role of dark energy.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) represents the next leap in this progression. As the most technically advanced and largest telescope ever built, it is specifically designed to explore the infrared spectrum. This allows it to act as a time machine, peering through cosmic dust to observe the early universe. Rather than replacing Hubble, the two observatories work together; their complementary observations provide a broader, more comprehensive view of the cosmos, building on the scientific foundation laid by previous generations of discovery.
By interpreting these different frequencies of light, scientists can perform spectroscopy—analyzing the frequencies emitted and absorbed by atoms. Astronomers use this method to identify what chemicals make up the interstellar medium and various stars. While microscopes first exposed cellular life, these instruments uncover universal architecture, spanning from cosmic dimensions to the atomic forces that formed them.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How does a Space Telescope work? (Hubble and Webb)
- Also: Hubble vs. Webb - NASA Science
- Also: How Does a Telescope Work? | Refracting, Reflecting, Space Telescopes, Optics, Physics, Diagrams, & More | Britannica
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