11 min listen
The James Webb Space Telescope Is Fueling Galactic Controversy
FromShort Wave
ratings:
Length:
13 minutes
Released:
Sep 18, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
We're entering a new era of astrophysics. The James Webb Space Telescope is helping scientists test existing ideas and models of how the universe was created—on a whole new level. This telescope is sending back images of galaxies forming under a billion years after the Big Bang—way earlier than astronomers had previously expected. Not only that, scientists had anticipated that later—but still very early—galaxies would be small, barely formed blobs; instead, the galaxies in these images have spiral arms. So, today's show is all about GALACTIC CONTROVERSY! Computational astrophysicist Jorge Moreno talks with fellow astronomer and Short Wave's Scientist in Residence Regina G. Barber about how these new findings are stirring up controversy in the scientific community and the lessons we can learn from galaxies. Questions or controversies? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Released:
Sep 18, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
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