The Science Show Lab Notes: The telescope redefining the Universe
Jul 8, 2025
Laura Dreesen, a radio astronomer at the University of Sydney, discusses the groundbreaking advancements brought by the James Webb Space Telescope. She highlights its achievements in revealing distant galaxies and the early universe's secrets. The podcast dives into how infrared astronomy differs from visible light and the significant role it plays in cosmic discoveries. Dreesen also shares insights into exoplanet research, including the use of transmission spectroscopy to explore rocky, Earth-like worlds and expand our understanding of habitability.
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JWST's Stunning Debut
- Laura Dreesen recalls a "collective gasp" worldwide at JWST's first images due to their beauty and clarity.
- She highlights the engineering marvel of unfolding the telescope at L2, stressing the high stakes with no repairs possible.
Infrared Astronomy Explained
- JWST uses infrared light, which is invisible to humans, to observe the universe.
- The colors in JWST images are artificially added to visualize this unseen infrared light.
Rewriting Cosmic Dawn
- JWST has pushed back the timeline for the universe's first galaxies and black holes existence.
- It helps study the universe's early foggy periods, the Dark Ages, and the cosmic dawn when first light appeared.