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Webb Telescope gets the star treatment in new NASA documentary

Webb Telescope gets the star treatment in new NASA documentary

The pages of Digital Trends are filled with breathtaking images of deep space captured by the James Webb Space Telescope, including the beautiful Cosmic Tornado, the gorgeous Ring Nebula, the incredible Carina Nebula, and a stunning spiral galaxy.
The Webb telescope — the most powerful ever built — launched in 2021 and has been scanning the far reaches of space ever since. Besides beaming back amazing infrared imagery, the telescope is also helping scientists to learn more about the universe's first stars and galaxies, the formation of numerous stars and planetary systems, and the origins of life itself, by exploring distant places with unprecedented clarity.
To celebrate the ongoing work of the Webb telescope, NASA has just released a documentary — Cosmic Dawn — that chronicles its more than two decades of development, highlighting the telescope's careful assembly, rigorous testing, and successful launch nearly five years ago.
Cosmic Dawn has a runtime of 96 minutes and is free to watch on YouTube. We've embedded it at the top of this page.
'At NASA, we're thrilled to share the untold story of our James Webb Space Telescope in our new film Cosmic Dawn, celebrating not just the discoveries, but the extraordinary people who made it all happen, for the benefit of humanity,' said Rebecca Sirmons, head of NASA+.
The documentary also offers viewers an inside look at the successes and setbacks experienced by the team at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland — the birthplace of Webb. You'll also get to enjoy plenty of Webb's groundbreaking work, including remarkable images of the faint light of the first stars and galaxies that formed more than 13.5 billion years ago. The documentary also shares Webb's findings on black holes, planets in our solar system and far beyond, and plenty of other cosmic phenomena.
'Webb was a mission that was going to be spectacular whether that was good or bad — if it failed or was successful,' said video producer Sophia Roberts, who filmed some of the happenings prior to Webb's deployment.
Roberts added: 'It was always going to make history.'

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NASA's red planet rover shares a cool close-up of Mars mud
NASA's red planet rover shares a cool close-up of Mars mud

Digital Trends

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  • Digital Trends

NASA's red planet rover shares a cool close-up of Mars mud

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Exposure to forever chemicals before birth may raise blood pressure during teen years
Exposure to forever chemicals before birth may raise blood pressure during teen years

Associated Press

time3 hours ago

  • Associated Press

Exposure to forever chemicals before birth may raise blood pressure during teen years

Research Highlights: Embargoed until 5:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, June 12, 2025 ( NewMediaWire ) - June 12, 2025 - DALLAS — Children exposed before birth to synthetic compounds called 'forever chemicals' had higher blood pressure during their teenage years, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association. The study is also being presented today at the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER) Conference in Boston. The association between prenatal exposure to forever chemicals and elevated blood pressure was more pronounced among boys and children born to non-Hispanic Black mothers. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a large group of human-made chemicals used to make products resistant to water, grease and stains. People are most exposed to PFAS through drinking water, food and household products, such as food packaging, nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, and personal care products. They are called 'forever chemicals' because they do not break down easily and can build up in the environment or in the body over time. According to previous research, almost everyone in the world is exposed to PFAS through what they eat or drink, breathe or absorb through the skin. In addition, PFAS may also affect the rapidly developing fetus, a particularly sensitive time for exposure to toxic pollutants. Previous studies have also noted that high blood pressure in children increased worldwide between 2000 and 2015, raising the future risk for heart disease and stroke. This is one of the first investigations about the association between prenatal exposure to forever chemicals and offspring blood pressure from early childhood to adolescence among a racially and ethnically diverse population. The study evaluated associations of prenatal PFAS exposures with blood pressure by the child's life stage, sex and maternal race/ethnicity. 'Our study shows that prenatal PFAS exposure is associated with higher blood pressure later in childhood, especially during adolescence,' said Zeyu Li, M.S.P.H., lead author and graduate student researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. 'This suggests these forever chemicals can have long-lasting and potentially harmful effects that may only become apparent years after birth.' The study followed 1,094 children from the Boston Birth Cohort over a median of 12 years, analyzed in conjunction with more than 13,000 blood pressure readings taken at routine pediatric visits. Among children whose mothers had higher concentrations of forever chemicals in blood samples collected after delivery, the analysis found: 'We hope our findings encourage more researchers to follow children into adolescence and beyond,' Li said. 'Many past studies stopped at early or mid-childhood, however, our study shows that the health effects of prenatal PFAS exposure may not appear until the teen years.' While people can try to limit their exposure — by choosing PFAS-free products or cookware — meaningful changes to reduce everyday PFAS exposures requires action at the policy level, researchers said. 'Our results reinforce the need for stronger environmental protections,' said Mingyu Zhang, Ph.D., M.H.S., FAHA, senior author of the study and assistant professor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. 'Reducing PFAS exposure — especially during pregnancy and in children — requires policy-level action to limit and phase out PFAS in consumer products and industrial uses, and to strengthen monitoring and regulation of PFAS in water systems. This is not something individuals can solve on their own.' Justin Zachariah, M.D., M.P.H., FAHA, chair of the Association's 2024 Scientific Statement Environmental Exposures and Pediatric Cardiology scientific statement, said: 'We must remember that these chemicals last in our bodies for years, suggesting that perhaps prenatal exposure may have occurred before conception, and these chemicals may cause changes that can carry forward for generations. Therefore, improvements we make could echo for generations to come.' The scientific statement summarizes examples of ubiquitous environmental toxicants and pollutants, including the forever chemicals studied by Zhang et al., and their associations with increasingly prevalent precursors and risk factors for cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and congenital heart disease. Zachariah, who was not involved in Zhang et. al's study, is an associate professor of pediatric cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and medical director of the cardiovascular clinical research core at Texas Children's Hospital. He noted that chemicals can interfere with hormones and disrupt usual adolescent development, perhaps including blood pressure. It is already known that boys and Black children are at higher risk of elevated blood pressure, and exposure to these chemicals may contribute to that higher risk, he said. 'If race is indicating socioeconomic disadvantage, shelf-stable processed, packaged foods are more likely to have PFAS exposure than well-rinsed fresh foods,' Zachariah said. 'In addition, the children may have lifestyles that expose them to everyday items heavily burdened with these chemicals such as toys they may chew on, rain jackets, camping tents and more.' He urges all adults to take actions like filtering water and changing cooking implements. Improved product labeling could also inform consumers about PFAS content so they can make healthier choices about exposure to forever chemicals. Study limitations include that PFAS exposure was measured using a single blood sample from the mother taken within three days after delivery, and that fewer children had blood pressure measurements taken during adolescence compared to earlier childhood. Study details, background and design: Co-authors, disclosures and funding sources are listed in the manuscript. Studies published in the American Heart Association's scientific journals are peer-reviewed. The statements and conclusions in each manuscript are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the Association's policy or position. The Association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The Association receives more than 85% of its revenue from sources other than corporations. 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By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. For Media Inquiries and AHA/ASA Expert Perspective: 214-706-1173 Bridgette McNeill: [email protected] For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721) and

Moderna Receives U.S. FDA Approval for RSV Vaccine, mRESVIA, in Adults Aged 18–59 at Increased Risk for RSV Disease
Moderna Receives U.S. FDA Approval for RSV Vaccine, mRESVIA, in Adults Aged 18–59 at Increased Risk for RSV Disease

Associated Press

time3 hours ago

  • Associated Press

Moderna Receives U.S. FDA Approval for RSV Vaccine, mRESVIA, in Adults Aged 18–59 at Increased Risk for RSV Disease

Expanded indication builds on existing U.S. FDA approval of mRESVIA for adults aged 60 and older CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / June 12, 2025 / Moderna, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRNA) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved mRESVIA® (mRNA-1345), the Company's respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine, for the prevention of lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) caused by RSV in individuals 18-59 years of age who are at increased risk for disease. This approval expands the previous indication of mRESVIA, which was approved in May 2024 for adults aged 60 years and older. 'RSV poses a serious health risk to adults with certain chronic conditions, and today's approval marks an important step forward in our ability to protect additional populations from severe illness from RSV,' said Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna. 'We appreciate the FDA's review and thank all the participants in our clinical trial as well as the Moderna team for their dedication to protecting people against RSV.' While the risk of RSV is well recognized in infants and older adult populations, adults aged 18-59 years with chronic conditions are also vulnerable.1 Over one-third of adults aged 18-59 years have at least one underlying condition that puts them at increased risk of severe RSV disease,2 with disease burden and hospitalization rates in this population being comparable, or even exceeding, that observed in older adults.3 This approval was supported by results from Moderna's Phase 3 study ( NCT06067230 ), which evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of mRESVIA in adults aged 18-59 with underlying health conditions. The immune responses against both RSV-A and RSV-B met prespecified non-inferiority immunobridging criteria when compared to those observed in adults aged 60 years and older in the pivotal Phase 3, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study. Comparable levels of neutralizing antibodies were observed across both the 18-49 and 50-59 age subgroups, supporting the vaccine's consistent immunogenicity profile in this at-risk, younger adult population. These findings were presented at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) meeting in April 2025 and have been published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. The vaccine was generally well-tolerated, and the most commonly reported solicited adverse reactions were injection site pain, fatigue, headache, myalgia and arthralgia. Moderna intends to have mRESVIA available for both younger adults at increased risk (ages 18-59) and older adults (ages 60+) in the U.S. for the 2025-2026 respiratory virus season. About mRESVIA® (Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccine) mRESVIA® is an RSV vaccine that consists of an mRNA sequence encoding a stabilized prefusion F glycoprotein. The F glycoprotein is expressed on the surface of the virus and is required for infection by helping the virus to enter host cells. The prefusion conformation of the F protein is a significant target of potent neutralizing antibodies and is highly conserved across both RSV-A and RSV-B subtypes. The vaccine uses the same lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) as the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. About Moderna Moderna is a leader in the creation of the field of mRNA medicine. Through the advancement of mRNA technology, Moderna is reimagining how medicines are made and transforming how we treat and prevent disease for everyone. By working at the intersection of science, technology and health for more than a decade, the company has developed medicines at unprecedented speed and efficiency, including one of the earliest and most effective COVID-19 vaccines. Moderna's mRNA platform has enabled the development of therapeutics and vaccines for infectious diseases, immuno-oncology, rare diseases and autoimmune diseases. With a unique culture and a global team driven by the Moderna values and mindsets to responsibly change the future of human health, Moderna strives to deliver the greatest possible impact to people through mRNA medicines. For more information about Moderna, please visit and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. mRESVIA® is a registered trademark of Moderna. INDICATION mRESVIA is a vaccine to protect you against lower respiratory tract disease caused by Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). mRESVIA is for people 60 years of age and older and also for people 18 through 59 years of age who are at increased risk for RSV (people with medical conditions such as diabetes or with diseases affecting the lungs and heart). Vaccination with mRESVIA may not protect all people who receive the vaccine. mRESVIA does not contain RSV. mRESVIA cannot give you lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Who should not get mRESVIA? You should not get mRESVIA if you had a severe allergic reaction to any ingredient in mRESVIA. What should you tell your healthcare provider? Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: How is mRESVIA given? mRESVIA is given as an injection into the muscle. What are the risks of mRESVIA? There is a very small chance that mRESVIA could cause a severe allergic reaction. A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to one hour after getting a dose of mRESVIA. For this reason, your healthcare provider may ask you to stay for a short time at the place where you received your vaccine. Signs of a severe allergic reaction may include: Side effects that have been reported in clinical trials with mRESVIA include: These may not be all of the possible side effects of mRESVIA. Ask your healthcare provider about any side effects that concern you. You may report side effects to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) at 1-800-822-7967 or Please click for mRESVIA Full Prescribing Information. Moderna Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including statements regarding: the efficacy, safety and tolerability of mRESVIA; the disease burden associated with RSV, particularly in adults with certain risk factors; and the availability of mRESVIA for the 2025-2026 season. The forward-looking statements in this press release are neither promises nor guarantees, and you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements because they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond Moderna's control and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, and other factors include, among others, those risks and uncertainties described under the heading 'Risk Factors' in Moderna's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and in subsequent filings made by Moderna with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available on the SEC's website at Except as required by law, Moderna disclaims any intention or responsibility for updating or revising any forward-looking statements contained in this press release in the event of new information, future developments or otherwise. These forward-looking statements are based on Moderna's current expectations and speak only as of the date of this press release. Moderna Contacts Media: Chris Ridley Head of Global Media Relations +1 617-800-3651 [email protected] Investors: Lavina Talukdar Senior Vice President & Head of Investor Relations +1 617-209-5834 [email protected] 1 Prasad N, Walker TA, Waite B, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus-associated hospitalizations among adults with chronic medical conditions. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73(1): e158-e63. 2 Wilker E, Jiang M, Francis B, et al. Burden of chronic medical conditions that are risk factors for severe RSV among adults aged 18-59 years in the United States. Poster presented at: ESCMID; April 2025; Vienna, Austria. 3 Weycker D, Averin A, Houde L, et al. Rates of Lower Respiratory Tract Illness in US Adults by Age and Comorbidity Profile. Infect Dis Ther 2024; 13(1): 207-20. SOURCE: Moderna, Inc. press release

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