JWST captures the most distant hydrogen glow ever detected
In short: Astrophysicist Dr. Becky Smethurst explains how the James Webb Space Telescope is pushing the boundaries of our observable universe by detecting light from the earliest stages of cosmic history.
Dr. Becky Smethurst appears within this recording. Oxford University astrophysicist Smethurst researches how galaxies develop alongside supermassive black holes. She explores how these massive objects can influence whether a galaxy is able to produce new stars by affecting the surrounding disk of material.
This discovery highlights the capabilities of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), which was launched in 2021 as the successor to Hubble. With a mirror diameter of 6.5 meters—seven times larger than Hubble's—the JWST allows scientists to observe phenomena that were previously unreachable, providing a deeper understanding of the cosmos and the origins of our universe.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: JWST spots the most distant glow of hydrogen ever found | Night Sky News April 2025
- Also: James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) | Definition & Facts | Britannica
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