1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,620 Okay, so imagine this. 2 00:00:01,620 --> 00:00:04,600 You're out camping miles from any city lights 3 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:06,660 and you look up at the night sky, 4 00:00:06,660 --> 00:00:09,360 you see the Milky Way, just this hazy band 5 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,640 stretching across the darkness for centuries. 6 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,960 That was all we had, just a blurry glimpse 7 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,080 of the vast universe. 8 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:19,520 But then we got Hubble and it was like, 9 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,640 it pierced through the fog, gave us sharper images. 10 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:26,240 But now we've got something even better. 11 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:28,920 We have the James Webb Space Telescope. 12 00:00:28,920 --> 00:00:29,760 It's amazing. 13 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:31,040 It's like a time machine, 14 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:34,240 letting us peek into the universe's baby pictures. 15 00:00:34,240 --> 00:00:37,800 We're seeing galaxies as they were billions of years ago, 16 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:40,160 stars being born, stars dying, 17 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:43,320 and all sorts of cosmic events we never even imagined. 18 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:44,400 Absolutely mind blowing. 19 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:45,360 It is incredible. 20 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:46,760 Welcome to Cosmos in a Pod, 21 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:48,120 the Space and Astronomy series. 22 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:49,960 Please like, comment, share, and subscribe. 23 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:51,720 So one of the things that's really fascinating 24 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:53,200 about the James Webb Space Telescope 25 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,200 is its infrared vision. 26 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:58,280 It allows us to see through those giant clouds 27 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,920 of gas and dust that normally obscure our view. 28 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:01,760 Oh yeah. 29 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:04,040 It's like having X-ray vision for the universe. 30 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:04,880 Exactly. 31 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,520 And one of the first things that JWST zoomed in on 32 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:10,280 was something pretty familiar. 33 00:01:10,280 --> 00:01:11,760 In the Pillars of Creation. 34 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:12,920 Yeah, beautiful. 35 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:13,920 In the Eagle Nebula. 36 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,160 You probably remember that iconic image from Hubble, right? 37 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:17,360 Oh, of course. 38 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,560 Huge columns of gas and dust. 39 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,840 Look almost like giant cosmic fingers 40 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,200 reaching out into space. 41 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:26,320 So Hubble gave us this beautiful view, but. 42 00:01:26,320 --> 00:01:28,320 Jada Bezat took it a step further. 43 00:01:28,320 --> 00:01:29,720 It saw through the dust, 44 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:34,080 revealed the stellar nurseries hidden inside those pillars. 45 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,520 Just imagine seeing newborn stars just igniting, 46 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,560 surrounded by these swirling clouds of gas and dust. 47 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:43,880 So we're actually seeing star formation in action. 48 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:45,960 It's like watching a cosmic fireworks display, 49 00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:46,840 but in slow motion. 50 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:48,000 Yeah, exactly. 51 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:49,040 Speaking of fireworks, 52 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:51,200 let's talk about the Southern Ring Nebula. 53 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,400 This one, it looks like a giant glowing smoke ring. 54 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,920 Yeah, it's breathtaking, isn't it? 55 00:01:56,920 --> 00:01:58,000 The Southern Ring Nebula 56 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,520 really shows us the death of a star. 57 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,400 A star runs out of fuel and it sheds its outer layers, 58 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,200 creating these expanding shells of gas. 59 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,360 But what's really interesting is what JWST uncovered. 60 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:10,240 Yeah, what's that? 61 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:12,800 There isn't just one star at the center of this nebula, 62 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,280 there are two. 63 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:16,080 A binary star system. 64 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:17,880 Hold on, so it's not just one star 65 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:19,680 having a cosmic tantrum, there are two. 66 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:20,760 Yeah. 67 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:23,240 How does that change things? 68 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,040 Well, it means that the dynamics are much more complex 69 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:27,400 than we initially thought. 70 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,280 The gravitational interaction between these two stars 71 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:32,920 as one is dying is what's creating these intricate 72 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:34,600 and mesmerizing shapes. 73 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:36,880 It helps us understand how these nebulas form 74 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,640 and evolve over time, 75 00:02:38,640 --> 00:02:41,520 adds another layer to the story of stellar death. 76 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,320 So it's like a cosmic dance, 77 00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,920 a final waltz before one of the partners fades away. 78 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:47,040 I like that, yeah. 79 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:49,320 It's beautiful and kind of sad at the same time. 80 00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:50,640 But let's shift gears for a second. 81 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:52,000 Let's bring things a little closer to home. 82 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:52,840 Okay. 83 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,320 JWST has given us some incredible new views 84 00:02:55,320 --> 00:02:58,360 of our own solar system, particularly Saturn. 85 00:02:58,360 --> 00:02:59,840 Ah, Saturn. 86 00:02:59,840 --> 00:03:03,080 With its majestic rings, it's always been a showstopper. 87 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,880 But what's really remarkable about JWST's observations 88 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:07,880 is the level of detail we're seeing. 89 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,560 We're seeing the rings with a clarity never before seen, 90 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:14,120 individual gaps and divisions, even faint outer rings 91 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:15,960 that were barely visible before. 92 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,760 I bet it makes those old textbook images 93 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,320 look like blurry Polaroids. 94 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:20,160 Oh, yeah. 95 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:21,800 And it's not just the rings, right? 96 00:03:21,800 --> 00:03:25,640 JWST has captured images of some of Saturn's moons too, 97 00:03:25,640 --> 00:03:26,840 including Enceladus. 98 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:27,680 Enceladus. 99 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,200 Which is super exciting because- 100 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,200 Well, Enceladus is one of the most promising places 101 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:34,080 in our solar system to search for life beyond Earth. 102 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:36,120 We know it has a subsurface ocean, 103 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:39,000 and JWST can help us study the plumes of water vapor 104 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,160 that erupt from its south polar region. 105 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:42,880 It's like a giant cosmic sprinkler, 106 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,640 just spraying clues about possible life into space. 107 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:46,640 Yeah. 108 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:48,360 Okay, now let's zoom out again. 109 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,160 Way out, billions of light years away 110 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:55,960 to a galaxy cluster called SMACS0723. 111 00:03:55,960 --> 00:04:00,960 SMACS0723, that's where JWST gave us its deep field image, 112 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,760 the deepest, sharpest infrared view 113 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:05,800 of the distant universe ever captured. 114 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,000 In this image, we're seeing the light from galaxies 115 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:10,640 that existed over 13 billion years ago. 116 00:04:10,640 --> 00:04:12,000 So we're talking about seeing galaxies 117 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:13,520 when the universe was practically a newborn. 118 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:14,920 How is that even possible? 119 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:18,520 It's all thanks to a phenomenon called gravitational lensing. 120 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:21,040 The massive gravity of the galaxy cluster 121 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,720 in the foreground acts like a giant cosmic lens, 122 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,680 bending and magnifying the light 123 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,920 from those distant galaxies behind it. 124 00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:31,160 So it's like the universe is giving us a helping hand, 125 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,520 a magnifying glass to see its own baby pictures. 126 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:34,360 Exactly. 127 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:35,240 That's amazing. 128 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,280 But tell me, what can we actually learn 129 00:04:37,280 --> 00:04:39,800 from these faint, distorted images 130 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,240 of those ancient galaxies? 131 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:42,880 They offer a glimpse into a time 132 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:44,920 when the universe was very different. 133 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,560 These early galaxies are much smaller and bluer 134 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:49,240 than the galaxies we see today, 135 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:52,320 and studying them helps us understand how galaxies form 136 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,960 and evolve over cosmic timescales. 137 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:56,920 It's like piecing together an evolutionary history, 138 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:58,720 but for galaxies instead of animals. 139 00:04:58,720 --> 00:04:59,600 Precisely. 140 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:00,960 Fascinating. 141 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,520 Okay, let's talk about the dramatic demise of stars. 142 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:07,640 JWST has captured some amazing images of Cassiopeia A, 143 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:09,480 the remnant of a supernova that exploded 144 00:05:09,480 --> 00:05:11,320 about 340 years ago. 145 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:13,960 Cassiopeia A is like a cosmic crime scene, 146 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:16,400 the aftermath of a stellar explosion. 147 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,640 And JWST's infrared vision lets us see 148 00:05:18,640 --> 00:05:21,360 through the debris and analyze the different elements 149 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,840 that were forged in the heart of that dying star. 150 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:26,360 The images are absolutely spectacular. 151 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,320 Vibrant shades of pink and orange, 152 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,840 representing elements like sulfur and oxygen, 153 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:33,520 almost artistic like a cosmic abstract painting. 154 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:34,600 They are beautiful. 155 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,120 But there's this one feature that caught my eye. 156 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,720 Baby Cass A, what is that exactly? 157 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,480 Baby Cass A is this fascinating region 158 00:05:42,480 --> 00:05:44,520 within the supernova remnant. 159 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:47,320 It's a dense clump of dust that's being illuminated 160 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,280 by high energy photons from the surrounding explosion. 161 00:05:50,280 --> 00:05:51,120 Dust? 162 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:52,520 Why is dust so interesting? 163 00:05:52,520 --> 00:05:54,280 I mean, here on Earth, we try to get rid of dust. 164 00:05:54,280 --> 00:05:56,840 Well, this isn't the dust bunnies you find under your couch. 165 00:05:56,840 --> 00:05:57,680 Oh, okay. 166 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,240 This cosmic dust is the raw material 167 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:01,680 for future star and planet formation. 168 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,760 It's made up of elements like carbon, silicon, and oxygen, 169 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,120 you know, the building blocks of everything we see around us. 170 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,360 So even in death, a star provides the seeds for new life. 171 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,760 Exactly, it's a beautiful cosmic cycle. 172 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,600 It is, amazing. 173 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,400 All right, from a supernova remnant to a distant ice giant, 174 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:21,640 let's turn our attention now to Neptune, 175 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:23,480 the eighth planet in our solar system. 176 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:24,320 Okay. 177 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:25,960 What kind of fresh perspective 178 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,480 has JWST given us on this icy world? 179 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:31,920 Well, for starters, it's given us back Neptune's rings. 180 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:32,760 What do you mean? 181 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:34,560 For decades, they were barely visible, 182 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:38,840 but JWST's infrared vision cuts through the atmospheric haze 183 00:06:38,840 --> 00:06:41,720 and shows us those rings in stunning detail. 184 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:44,040 Wow, it's like Neptune got a cosmic makeover, 185 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,080 a ring restoration. 186 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:45,920 Yeah. 187 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:47,440 But it's not just about looks, right? 188 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:48,720 No, of course not. 189 00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:50,840 JWST is also revealing new details 190 00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:52,360 about Neptune's atmosphere, 191 00:06:52,360 --> 00:06:54,160 showing us dynamic weather patterns, 192 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,280 high altitude methane clouds, 193 00:06:56,280 --> 00:06:58,160 even a glowing equatorial band 194 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,920 that suggests there's active atmospheric circulation. 195 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:03,000 So even though it's billions of miles away 196 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:04,680 and incredibly cold, 197 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,120 Neptune is a surprisingly lively place. 198 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:07,960 It is. 199 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:09,480 And let's not forget about Triton, 200 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:10,680 Neptune's largest moon. 201 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:12,160 Ah, Triton. 202 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:14,880 One of the most intriguing moons in our solar system, 203 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,200 it's a captured Kuiper belt object, 204 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:18,680 it's geologically active, 205 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:20,640 and has a retrograde orbit, 206 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:21,880 meaning it orbits Neptune 207 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,120 in the opposite direction of Neptune's rotation. 208 00:07:24,120 --> 00:07:26,000 Okay, so that's pretty rebellious for a moon. 209 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:26,840 It is. 210 00:07:26,840 --> 00:07:28,920 What's JWST telling us about Triton? 211 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,360 One of the most striking things 212 00:07:30,360 --> 00:07:33,200 is that in JWST's infrared view, 213 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,440 Triton actually outshines Neptune. 214 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,800 Wait, the moon outshines the planet. 215 00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:39,560 How is that possible? 216 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:42,160 Triton's surface is covered in nitrogen ice, 217 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,680 which reflects infrared light very efficiently. 218 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,880 And because it's tidally locked to Neptune, 219 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,440 always showing the same face, 220 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:51,920 we get a very bright signal from that icy surface. 221 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,400 It's like Triton is putting on a cosmic light show, 222 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,280 just trying to steal the spotlight from its parent planet. 223 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:58,120 Yeah. 224 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:59,080 Now, buckle up, 225 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:00,240 because we're about to embark 226 00:08:00,240 --> 00:08:03,320 on the most mind-boggling part of our journey yet. 227 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:07,480 We're going to the very edge of the observable universe, 228 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,480 to a star named Arendelle. 229 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:13,040 Arendelle, the most distant star we've ever observed, 230 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,760 located a mind-boggling 13 billion light years away, 231 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:18,640 meaning the light we're seeing from it 232 00:08:18,640 --> 00:08:20,080 left the star when the universe 233 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:21,680 was less than a billion years old. 234 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,120 13 billion light years. 235 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:24,480 That's like looking back in time 236 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:26,800 to when the universe was practically a baby. 237 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,080 How on earth, or rather, how in space 238 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,240 did we manage to see something that far away? 239 00:08:31,240 --> 00:08:32,080 You guessed it. 240 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:34,480 Gravitational lensing comes to the rescue again. 241 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,440 In this case, the gravity of a massive galaxy cluster 242 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,640 between us and Arendelle acts like a cosmic zoom lens, 243 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,640 magnifying the star's light and making it visible to JWST. 244 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:45,480 Wow. 245 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:47,120 So we got a lucky break. 246 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:48,960 A cosmic alignment that lets us see 247 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:52,160 this incredibly faint and distant star. 248 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:54,440 What makes Arendelle so special, 249 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,240 apart from its record-breaking distance? 250 00:08:57,240 --> 00:08:59,560 Arendelle might be a population third star, 251 00:08:59,560 --> 00:09:02,400 one of the first stars to form after the Big Bang. 252 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:04,760 These stars are thought to be massive, hot, 253 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,560 and composed almost entirely of hydrogen and helium, 254 00:09:07,560 --> 00:09:10,400 the primordial elements forged in the Big Bang. 255 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:11,400 A population three star. 256 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,400 I remember learning about those in astronomy class. 257 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,560 They're like the dinosaurs of the stellar world, 258 00:09:15,560 --> 00:09:17,000 the first generation of stars. 259 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:17,640 Yeah. 260 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:18,560 What a discovery. 261 00:09:18,560 --> 00:09:19,400 It's huge. 262 00:09:19,400 --> 00:09:21,480 If confirmed, studying Arendelle would 263 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:23,840 give us unprecedented insight into the conditions 264 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:26,640 of the early universe and how the first stars influenced 265 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:29,720 the formation of galaxies and the elements we see today. 266 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,680 It's like having a time capsule from the dawn of the cosmos. 267 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:34,320 This is mind-blowing stuff. 268 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:36,000 It's incredible to think that we're just 269 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,560 at the beginning of JWST's journey, 270 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:42,600 and it's already rewriting our understanding of the universe. 271 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,240 What a time to be alive and star-dazing. 272 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,240 We'll be back with more incredible discoveries from JWST 273 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,080 after a quick break. 274 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,160 Welcome back to Cosmos in a Pod. 275 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,080 We're diving even deeper into the incredible discoveries made 276 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,160 by the James Webb Space Telescope. 277 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:00,160 Yeah, so far we've really explored everything 278 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:03,080 from those star nurseries to those supernova remnants. 279 00:10:03,080 --> 00:10:05,840 We even got a glimpse of the most distant star ever 280 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:06,720 observed. 281 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:08,400 It's been an amazing journey, and we're 282 00:10:08,400 --> 00:10:09,600 really just getting started. 283 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:10,320 Oh, absolutely. 284 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:11,680 There's so much more to come. 285 00:10:11,680 --> 00:10:13,440 So let's step back for a second and think 286 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:14,480 about the bigger picture. 287 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:15,120 Yeah. 288 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,720 What did these findings tell us about the universe? 289 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:18,760 Where do we go from here? 290 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:20,400 OK, yeah, big picture time. 291 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,280 I think one of the most significant takeaways 292 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:26,120 from JWST so far is the sheer diversity of objects 293 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:27,680 and phenomena in the universe. 294 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:30,400 Yeah, we saw that firsthand in all those images, right? 295 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:34,360 From those nebulae to the galaxies to individual stars, 296 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,400 each one with its own unique story. 297 00:10:36,400 --> 00:10:38,480 Absolutely, and I think that really speaks 298 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,640 to the incredible complexity of the universe 299 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,000 and how much we still don't know. 300 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:43,320 It's pretty humbling, you know? 301 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:44,280 It is. 302 00:10:44,280 --> 00:10:48,600 Makes you realize how much there still is to explore out there. 303 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:50,320 Another key takeaway. 304 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:52,800 I think it's got to be the importance of infrared astronomy. 305 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:53,720 Oh, definitely. 306 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:55,840 JWST's infrared vision, it allows 307 00:10:55,840 --> 00:10:58,320 it to see through those dense clouds of dust 308 00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:00,320 that block visible light, letting 309 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,600 it observe those objects that were previously hidden. 310 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:05,960 That's completely revolutionized our understanding 311 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:09,600 of star formation, how galaxies evolve, even the search 312 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:10,720 for exoplanets. 313 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,800 It's like having a whole new set of eyes on the universe. 314 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,880 But does that mean that JWST is like the be-all and end-all 315 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:17,960 of space telescopes? 316 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:19,320 I mean, it's a phenomenal instrument. 317 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:20,400 There's no doubt about it. 318 00:11:20,400 --> 00:11:23,440 But it's just one tool in our cosmic toolbox. 319 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:25,560 No single telescope can do it all. 320 00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:27,720 And even JWST has its limitations. 321 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:28,800 Oh, OK, like what? 322 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,880 Well, it's primarily an infrared telescope. 323 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:33,200 So it's not really as well suited for observing 324 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,040 those objects that emit mostly invisible light. 325 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:37,960 And while its reach is impressive, 326 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:40,320 JWST still has a finite lifespan. 327 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:42,880 Right, it's got a projected mission of about 10 years. 328 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:44,440 So what happens after that? 329 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,160 What's next for space exploration? 330 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:50,640 Well, the good news is there's a whole new generation of space 331 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:52,560 telescopes that's in development, 332 00:11:52,560 --> 00:11:54,960 each one designed to push the boundaries of our knowledge 333 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,000 even further. 334 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:57,020 Really? 335 00:11:57,020 --> 00:11:57,800 Tell me more. 336 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,800 So for instance, there's the Nancy Grace Roman Space 337 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:01,760 Telescope. 338 00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,200 It's set to launch in the mid-2020s. 339 00:12:04,200 --> 00:12:07,520 It's designed to be this wide-field infrared survey 340 00:12:07,520 --> 00:12:08,200 telescope. 341 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:09,040 Yeah, I've heard of that one. 342 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,400 It's going to have a much larger field of view than JWST. 343 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:16,480 It's going to allow it to map these vast areas of the sky 344 00:12:16,480 --> 00:12:18,200 and study billions of galaxies. 345 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:18,760 Exactly. 346 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:22,040 And then there's the Large Ultraviolet Optical Infrared 347 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:24,280 Surveyor, or LVOR for short, which 348 00:12:24,280 --> 00:12:25,760 is still in the concept phase. 349 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:27,240 LVOR, that's a mouthful. 350 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:28,960 What's so special about that one? 351 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:30,480 Well, if it's funded and built, it 352 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,000 would be a truly massive space telescope, 353 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:36,400 like with a mirror several times larger than JWST's. 354 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:37,520 Wow, that's huge. 355 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:39,320 What can we do with a telescope that big? 356 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,400 Well, LVOR would be able to observe 357 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,640 an ultraviolet, visible, and infrared light. 358 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:46,960 So it'd give us this comprehensive view 359 00:12:46,960 --> 00:12:50,160 of the universe across all those multiple wavelengths. 360 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:53,120 So it's like the Swiss Army knife of space telescopes. 361 00:12:53,120 --> 00:12:54,160 Yeah, you could say that. 362 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:56,800 And with its sensitivity, it could potentially even 363 00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,720 image exoplanets directly, like even Earth-sized ones. 364 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:01,760 Now, that's exciting. 365 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:05,200 Imagine actually seeing another Earth-like planet out there. 366 00:13:05,200 --> 00:13:06,160 I know. 367 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,640 It's mind-boggling to think about the discoveries that 368 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:11,400 await us with these next generation telescopes. 369 00:13:11,400 --> 00:13:12,040 It really is. 370 00:13:12,040 --> 00:13:14,240 And I think those discoveries will undoubtedly 371 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:16,940 raise new questions, leading to even more advanced telescopes 372 00:13:16,940 --> 00:13:18,120 in the future. 373 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,240 It's this endless cycle of exploration and discovery 374 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:23,200 driven by human curiosity. 375 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,000 Yeah, it's that curiosity that drives 376 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,240 us to push the boundaries of knowledge 377 00:13:27,240 --> 00:13:29,120 and search for those answers to the biggest 378 00:13:29,120 --> 00:13:31,600 questions about the universe and our place in it. 379 00:13:31,600 --> 00:13:32,480 Well said. 380 00:13:32,480 --> 00:13:34,240 We've covered a lot of ground in this part, 381 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:35,840 but really only scratched the surface 382 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:38,960 of what JWST and future telescopes have to offer. 383 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:39,960 Yeah, for sure. 384 00:13:39,960 --> 00:13:41,560 In the final part of our deep dive, 385 00:13:41,560 --> 00:13:43,760 we're going to explore some of the more philosophical 386 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:45,400 implications of all these discoveries, 387 00:13:45,400 --> 00:13:48,040 kind of pondering that vastness of the universe 388 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:50,760 and what it means to be human in a cosmos filled 389 00:13:50,760 --> 00:13:52,720 with these awe-inspiring wonders. 390 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:54,240 OK, sounds good. 391 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:56,240 So join us for the final part of our deep dive 392 00:13:56,240 --> 00:14:00,760 into the universe with the James Webb Space Telescope. 393 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,320 Welcome back to Cosmos in a Pod for the final part 394 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,000 of our deep dive into the universe with the James Webb 395 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:06,960 Space Telescope. 396 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,880 Yeah, it's really been an incredible journey, hasn't it? 397 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,040 We've explored those incredible star births 398 00:14:13,040 --> 00:14:16,320 and those dramatic deaths and those swirling clouds 399 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:20,560 of nebulae, even those distant galaxies in their infancy. 400 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,040 It really makes you think about the vastness of it all. 401 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,120 You look at those images and knowing that light 402 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:27,720 has traveled billions of years to reach us, 403 00:14:27,720 --> 00:14:29,400 it's almost overwhelming to think about. 404 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:30,400 Yeah, yeah, it is. 405 00:14:30,400 --> 00:14:32,000 It's that feeling of awe and wonder. 406 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,800 And I think that's at the heart of astronomy 407 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:36,600 and really our humanity. 408 00:14:36,600 --> 00:14:38,680 It's like this desire we have to understand 409 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,560 our place in the universe, to unravel 410 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,040 the mystery of where we came from and where we're going. 411 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,200 And with JWST, it feels like we're 412 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,160 getting closer than ever to answering those questions. 413 00:14:48,160 --> 00:14:51,920 It's not just about seeing further those sharper images. 414 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:54,560 It's about what those images reveal, 415 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:57,520 about the processes that govern the whole universe. 416 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:00,120 One thing that's really struck me is how interconnected 417 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:01,480 everything is. 418 00:15:01,480 --> 00:15:03,000 We see the death of a star leading 419 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,080 to the birth of new stars and planets. 420 00:15:05,080 --> 00:15:07,560 We see galaxies colliding and merging, 421 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:09,800 shaping each other over billions of years. 422 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,120 This is a giant cosmic web, right? 423 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:12,720 Exactly. 424 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,000 It's all connected, everything influencing everything else, 425 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:18,600 even across these unimaginable distances. 426 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:20,800 And that connection, it extends to us, too. 427 00:15:20,800 --> 00:15:23,680 We're not just passive observers of this cosmic dance. 428 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:25,240 We're participating in it. 429 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:26,960 The elements that make up our bodies, 430 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:29,240 the very atoms that form our planet, 431 00:15:29,240 --> 00:15:31,400 we're all forged in the hearts of stars. 432 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:32,680 We really are made of stardust. 433 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:33,320 We are. 434 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:33,820 Wow. 435 00:15:33,820 --> 00:15:36,000 It makes you realize we're not separate from the universe 436 00:15:36,000 --> 00:15:36,240 at all. 437 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:37,120 We're part of it. 438 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:37,620 Right. 439 00:15:37,620 --> 00:15:39,240 And that's a realization that I think 440 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:41,640 can be both humbling and empowering. 441 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,080 Humbling when you think about our place in this vast 442 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,800 and ancient cosmos, but empowering 443 00:15:46,800 --> 00:15:48,800 because it really highlights our connection 444 00:15:48,800 --> 00:15:50,560 to everything around us. 445 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,200 So where do we go from here? 446 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:55,360 We've seen what JWST is capable of. 447 00:15:55,360 --> 00:15:57,520 We have these incredible new telescopes coming up 448 00:15:57,520 --> 00:15:58,960 on the horizon. 449 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,280 But what are the big questions that we still need to answer? 450 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,920 Well, I think one of the biggest mysteries that's still out 451 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,840 there is the nature of dark matter and dark energy. 452 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:08,720 We know they exist. 453 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:10,640 We see their influence on the universe. 454 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:12,320 But we still don't know what they are. 455 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:13,560 It's like something out of science fiction. 456 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:14,600 But they're real. 457 00:16:14,600 --> 00:16:17,040 They really hold the key to understanding 458 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:18,560 how this whole universe evolves. 459 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:19,360 Yeah, absolutely. 460 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:22,800 And then there's that question of life beyond Earth. 461 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:25,560 Is our planet the only one that's teaming with life? 462 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:27,720 Or are there other worlds out there? 463 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,040 Perhaps even other civilizations just 464 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,640 waiting to be discovered. 465 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:35,040 That's a question that has fascinated us for centuries. 466 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,040 With telescopes like JWST and the ones coming after it, 467 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,200 I think we're getting closer to finding an answer. 468 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:42,040 Yeah, and that search for life, it's 469 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:43,600 not just about finding aliens. 470 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,600 It's about understanding the conditions that even make 471 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,920 life possible in the first place. 472 00:16:48,920 --> 00:16:50,520 Piecing together the puzzle of where 473 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,360 we come from and our place in the cosmic steam of things. 474 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,720 Yeah, it's a journey of discovery, 475 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:59,800 both outward into that vastness of space, 476 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:03,080 but also inward exploring our own place within all of that. 477 00:17:03,080 --> 00:17:05,360 And I think it's a journey that really doesn't have an end 478 00:17:05,360 --> 00:17:06,240 point. 479 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:08,920 Every answer we find leads to new questions, 480 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,680 pushing us further on that path of exploration 481 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:13,960 and understanding. 482 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:15,960 And as we keep going down that path, 483 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:19,560 telescopes like JWST will be our guide, showing us the way, 484 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:21,160 revealing new wonders, and challenging 485 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,160 us to keep expanding those horizons, right? 486 00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:23,840 Absolutely. 487 00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:26,040 So to everyone listening, keep looking up. 488 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:27,280 Keep asking those questions. 489 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:29,240 Never lose that sense of wonder. 490 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:30,840 The universe is full of secrets that 491 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:32,280 are waiting to be uncovered. 492 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:34,600 Who knows what incredible discoveries are still ahead of us. 493 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,320 Yeah, I can't wait to see. 494 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,320 And that brings us to the end of our deep dive 495 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,480 into the universe with the James Webb Space Telescope. 496 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:44,080 We hope you've enjoyed this exploration as much as we have. 497 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:45,920 Be sure to follow Cosmos in a pod. 498 00:17:45,920 --> 00:17:47,840 And subscribe to our YouTube channel 499 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,160 for more cosmic adventures. 500 00:17:50,160 --> 00:18:16,760 Until next time, keep exploring.