New images of young, distant galaxies could help solve the mystery of star formation, scientists say.
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has released a new image showing the cosmic gem arc. Scientists have confirmed that the light emitted by the galaxy dates back to when the universe was only 460 million years old.
This galaxy is also notable for exhibiting a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. This phenomenon occurs when the curvature of space and time acts as a magnifying glass. However, this phenomenon has not been observed in other galaxies of the same age. The Cosmic Gem Ark therefore provides a unique opportunity to look relatively closely at the beginning of the universe.
Using magnification, scientists observed tiny structures within this young galaxy. They found that it contained five young star clusters, regions where stars form.
