James Webb Space Telescope revisits a classic Hubble image of over 2,500 galaxies
The James Webb Space Telescope has returned to the scene of one of the Hubble Space Telescope's most iconic images, the Ultra Deep Field, to capture galaxies throughout cosmic history.
This new image was taken as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), which is intent on further probing in infrared light two patches of sky that were originally imaged by Hubble: the Hubble Deep Field (1995) and the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (2004).
The deep fields were Hubble's most intense stares into the universe, revealing the faintest galaxies at the highest redshifts that Hubble could see, galaxies that existed over 13 billion years ago and whose light has been traveling for all that time. The Hubble Ultra Deep Field, in particular, was revisited several times by Hubble, in 2009, 2012 and 2014, using the near-infrared channels on the space telescope's Wide Field Camera 3. It shows some 10,000 galaxies detectable in an area of sky just 2.4 arcminutes square, which is less than a tenth of the diameter of the Full Moon in the night sky.
However, Hubble can only see so far. At the greatest redshifts, corresponding to galaxies that we see as they existed within a few hundred million years of the Big Bang, visible light is stretched into infrared wavelengths beyond Hubble's capacity to see. So, to beat this limitation, the JWST has stepped up.
The giant 6.5-meter space telescope got its first good look at the Hubble Ultra Deep Field in October 2022 with its Near-Infrared Camera. It has revisited the Ultra Deep Field several times, as part of the JADES project, and this latest image was captured by the JWST's Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) Deep Imaging Survey (MIDIS for short).
Indeed, the instrument's shortest-wavelength filter (F560W, which detects infrared light from 4.9 to 6.4 microns, centered on 5.6 microns) took the longest exposure of any single filter as part of this image, totaling 41 hours.
The image doesn't show the entirety of the Ultra Deep Field, only a section of it containing about 2,500 visible galaxies, four-fifths of them being truly distant, high redshift galaxies. None are record-breakers — the maximum redshifts visible are about 12, equating to 380 million years after the Big Bang, or 13.4 billion years ago. Just to compare, the current highest redshift galaxy, MoM-z14 (which is not part of the Ultra Deep Field), has a redshift of 14.4 and we see it as it existed about 280 million years after the Big Bang.
When coupled with data from JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) that operates at shorter wavelengths (1.9 to 4.8 microns), the observations reveal a great deal about the many galaxies in the image, most of which are visible as small dots of light. The image is presented in false color, since infrared light has no visible colors since it is beyond what the human eye can see.
Hundreds of red galaxies in the image are either star-forming galaxies that are shrouded by interstellar dust that absorbs the starlight and re-radiates it in infrared, or are highly evolved galaxies with lots of older, redder stars that formed near the beginning of the universe. Meanwhile, the small greenish-white galaxies are those that are at very high redshift, meaning we see them as they exist mostly during the first billion years of cosmic history. On the other hand, the larger blue and cyan galaxies are closer with low-redshifts and so appear brighter to NIRCam than to MIRI.
RELATED STORIES
— James Webb Space Telescope eyes Hubble Ultra Deep Field in stunning detail (photo)
— JWST peers through a cosmic lens in 'deepest gaze' to date | Space photo of the day for May 27, 2025
— Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes show 2 sides of star cluster duo | Space photo of the day for July 10, 2025
Astronomers work to push ever deeper with the JWST, adding observation on top of observations to chart the development of galaxies from close to the dawn of the universe to the present day. Among the data could be answers to many of cosmology's greatest secrets, such as how supermassive black holes formed, how galaxies formed, and when the majority of stars in the universe came into being. This is all still a work in progress, so stay tuned!
A study of the JWST Ultra Deep Field observations as published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Big-butt starfish,' 'little sweet potato' and dozens of never-before-seen species recorded during deep-sea expedition off Argentina
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A deep-sea expedition off the coast of Argentina has captured stunning footage of more than 40 never-before-seen species. One unexpected star of the show is a plump sea creature that has been dubbed the "big-butt starfish" for its uncanny resemblance to Patrick Star from "SpongeBob SquarePants." During the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian's dives in Argentina's Mar del Plata submarine canyon, which have been running since July 23, scientists aboard its accompanying research vessel provide a high-definition livestream, with real-time commentary on rarely seen deep-sea life. The dives have revealed carnivorous sponges, translucent fish, vividly colored rays and corals that have never been documented in the South Atlantic, a biodiversity hotspot that remains largely unexplored. The sea star, which has become a viral hit on social media, belongs to the genus Hippasteria, which is known for its thick central disc and short, stubby arms. During the livestream, viewers interacting via chat affectionately nicknamed it "estrella culona" — Spanish for "big-butt star." Argentine scientists involved with the expedition have offered a few hypotheses for the creature's attention-grabbing anatomy. The starfish may simply be well fed; they are voracious carnivores. Or, its rounded appearance could be the result of gravity, as it was filmed on a vertical surface with its central disc hanging downward, creating the illusion of glutes. Starfish don't have rear ends like humans or other bilaterally symmetrical animals do. Instead, they exhibit radial symmetry, with a mouth located on the underside of the central disc. That lower, or "oral," surface lies pressed against the seafloor, where feeding occurs. The anus is located in the center of the upper, or "aboral," surface, which is what a diver would see first when approaching the animal. Related: 'A disembodied head walking about the sea floor on its lips': Scientists finally work out what a starfish is Image 1 of 5 A purple sea cucumber dubbed the "Little Sweet Potato" was found off the coast of Argentina. Image 2 of 5 A number of crustaceans were spotted by an ROV in the Mar del Plata submarine canyon off Argentina. Image 3 of 5 The ROV SuBastian took footage and samples during the mission. Image 4 of 5 Researchers collected a variety of sea life that they now plan to study in the lab. Image 5 of 5 Viewers can watch the livestream on the Schmidt Ocean Institute's official YouTube channel. "Although starfish do have a complete digestive system and an anus, it's not in the location people are pointing to on social media," Mariela Romanelli, a biologist and curator of the invertebrate collection at Argentina's National Museum of Natural Sciences, told local news site Infobae in Spanish. "Still, the resemblance to Patrick Star's butt is pretty hilarious." RELATED STORIES —Hungry baby sea stars eat each other in unexpected case of underwater cannibalism —This 480 million-year-old creature is the ancestor of all starfish —Swarm of rainbow-colored starfish devour sea lion corpse on seafloor The big-butt starfish isn't the only creature from the expedition, led by scientists from the National Scientific and Technical Research Council and the Schmidt Ocean Institute, that has charmed the public. Another deep-sea creature captured on camera was a violet sea cucumber, belonging to the genus Benthodytes, whose plump body and purple hue earned it its name "Batatita"" ("Little Sweet Potato"). The specimen was collected by the ROV and is alive and well at the surface, expedition scientists said. So far, the expedition has documented at least 25 species of fish, both bony and cartilaginous; carnivorous sponges that have never been recorded in the South Atlantic; and crustaceans and other invertebrates that are specially adapted to the pitch-black depths. The livestream, broadcast for the first time from nearly 13,100 feet (4,000 meters) below sea level, continues through Aug. 10 and can be viewed on the Schmidt Ocean Institute's official YouTube channel. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
New study reveals cycling can reduce dementia risk by 88%
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Getting older is inevitable, but there's been a host of studies that prove regular exercise is one of the best ways to future-proof your health. Data shows that women make up two thirds of dementia cases globally, with the loss of estrogen during menopause increasing the risk of the most common types of dementia. Yet a 44-year study, published in the journal Neurology, has linked cycling to long-term brain protection. What the study shows The study looked at a sample of 1462 women aged 38 to 60. At the start of the study, between 1968-1970, 191 of the women completed a maximal cycling test on a stationary bike. They performed various cycling intervals, cycling at a low intensity, and increasing the intensity every few minutes until they reached exhaustion. Their peak workload achieved at exhaustion was recorded. This was measured in watts, and researchers used it as a marker for their maximal cardiovascular fitness level. The researchers concluded that high fitness delayed the age of dementia onset by 9.5 years, and that the women who demonstrated high cardio fitness had an 88% lower risk of developing dementia. The women in the study were then examined for signs of dementia in 1974, 1980, 2000, 2005, and 2009. This included neuropsychiatric examinations, interviews with the women, and hospital records. The researchers also looked at socioeconomic factors, like income and education, as well as the women's diets, smoking habits, and any existing illnesses. The results showed that only 5% of the highly fit women, based on the scores in the cycling tests at the beginning of the study, developed dementia, compared to 32% in the moderate group. The researchers concluded that high fitness delayed the age of dementia onset by 9.5 years, and that the women who demonstrated high cardio fitness had an 88% lower risk of developing dementia. How to get started with cycling If you're not into cycling, or you don't have the space to install one of the best exercise bikes in your home, don't panic. Building cardiovascular fitness can be achieved through swimming, running, and even fast walking, so it's not just biking that holds memory-boosting benefits. Of course, while this is an impressive longitudinal study, there are limitations — for example, the women classified as 'highly fit' are likely to have a better diet and healthier habits. What's more, the study only looked at Swedish women. More research is needed into the subject, but staying fit and healthy as you get older is definitely beneficial for your physical and mental health. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide Forget running and swimming — study finds this sport adds 10 years to your life Forget swimming and yoga — according to research, this type of exercise adds years to your life Strength training vs cardio: Which is better during menopause?
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
The 21 largest recorded earthquakes in history
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As the world's tectonic plates crash, grind and dive into one another, they release their pent-up energy in giant earthquakes that can rock the ground, trigger volcanic eruptions, move mountains and unleash tsunamis. And since scientists figured out how to measure earthquake magnitude in the early 1900s, some truly massive quakes have shaken our planet. These are the monstrous "megathrust" earthquakes, the most powerful quakes in the world. A huge fraction of these earthquakes occurred in a handful of subduction zones along the seismically restless "Ring of Fire" in the Pacific, where tectonic plates dive beneath one another. From the devastating Sumatran quake and tsunami of 2004 to a monstrous temblor in Siberia that, thankfully, killed no one, here are the 20 largest earthquakes ever recorded, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 21. Sanriku-Oki, Japan; 1933; magnitude 8.4 A magnitude 8.4 quake struck near the Sanriku region of Japan on March 2, 1933, according to the USGS. The quake occurred about 180 miles (290 kilometers) offshore of Honshu, Japan. Most of the deaths resulted from the tsunami the quake generated, which swept away 3,000 homes and destroyed 2,000 others and generated nearly 100-foot (29 meters) waves in Honshu, Japan. Several decades later, a magnitude 9.0 temblor would rock the same general region, causing the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011. This area is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, a nearly 25,000-mile-long (40,000 km) horseshoe-shaped belt that is known for both earthquakes and volcanic activity. The ring fringes the boundaries of the Pacific Plate wherever it smashes into its neighboring plates; in the region around Tōhoku, the Pacific Plate is colliding with the North American Plate. 20. Arequipa, Peru; 2001; magnitude 8.4 A magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck 4 miles (6 km) from the coastal town of Atico, Peru, on June 23, 2001. At least 74 people were killed; more than a third of them were swept away by the resulting tsunami. More than 2,600 people were injured, and over 50,000 homes were damaged by the strong ground shaking. The quake occurred at the boundary of the Nazca and South American plates, where the Nazca Plate is moving northeast at about 3 inches (78 millimeters) per year, smashing into and diving beneath the South American Plate, according to the USGS. Ground shaking as a result of the seismic activity was felt as far away as La Paz, Bolivia. 19. South of Sumatra, 2007, magnitude 8.4 On April 12, 2007, a magnitude 8.4 earthquake struck approximately 76 miles (122 km) offshore of Bengkulu, Indonesia, on the island of Sumatra. The giant quake occurred due to thrust faulting on the boundary between the Sunda and Australian plates. Around 25 people died, and more than 161 were injured. More than 20,000 buildings were damaged in the cities of Bengkulu and Sumatera Barat, according to the USGS. The quake marked the fourth magnitude 7.9 or greater temblor to strike the general region that decade; the area was still actively remodeling itself after the monster quake that struck just after Christmas Day in 2004 (see #3). 18. Near Kamchatka Peninsula, 1923, magnitude 8.4 Relatively little is known about the magnitude 8.4 quake that struck off the east coast of Kamchatka, Russia, on Feb. 3, 1923. The sparsely populated area of the Russian Far East sits near the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench, where the Pacific Plate is diving beneath the Okhotsk Plate, a teensy plate that was once thought to be part of the North American Plate. No reported injuries or deaths occurred, but the quake triggered a modest tsunami, according to the USGS. 17. Kuril Islands, Russia; 1963; magnitude 8.5 Relatively little is known about the quakes that struck the remote Kuril Islands on Oct. 13, 1963. This volcanic archipelago stretches between Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and Hokkaido, Japan. No deaths, damage or injuries were reported as a result of this temblor, but it triggered a tsunami that reached the northern Pacific Ocean. 16. Atacama, Chile; 1922; magnitude 8.5 On Nov. 11, 1922, a massive magnitude 8.5 quake struck the Atacama Desert on the border of Argentina and Chile. Even though the epicenter of the earthquake was beneath land, the shaking was so strong that it triggered a tsunami that killed hundreds of people, according to news reports at the time. 15. Banda Sea, Indonesia; 1938; magnitude 8.5 On Feb. 1, 1938, a magnitude 8.5 quake rocked the seafloor about 88 miles (141 km) northwest of Tual, Indonesia. Despite the strength of this temblor, the damage was fairly minor. Residents of the Banda and Kai islands felt the tremors, while in the city of Tual, glassware broke and a pendulum stopped. 14. Unimak Island, Alaska; 1946; magnitude 8.6 A magnitude 8.6 quake struck Unimak Island on April 1, 1946. Despite its large size, the quake did not destroy any buildings. However, it triggered a 115-foot-high (35 m) tsunami that swept away a lighthouse, along with its five occupants, according to the USGS. When the tsunami reached Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii, it swept away 159 people and caused $26 million in property damage. Unimak Island is one of the Aleutian Islands, which sit on the restive Ring of Fire, just like many of the other regions struck by large quakes on this list. 13. Andreanof Islands, Alaska; 1957; magnitude 8.6 The quake that struck off of the Andreanof Islands, part of the Aleutian Islands, on March 9, 1957, registered a magnitude 8.6. The quake occurred about 53 miles (86 km) southeast of Adak, Alaska, a tiny village of a few hundred people and the state's southernmost town. No one was killed, but the quake destroyed two bridges, created a meters-long crack in one road in Adak and damaged houses. The quake also generated a 49-foot-high (15 m) tsunami that slammed into the nearby Scotch Cap lighthouse, as well as a 26-foot-high (8 m) tsunami that washed away oil lines in Sand Bay. The tsunami then traveled to Hawaii, where it destroyed two villages, and to San Diego, where it also damaged some property. 12. Northern Sumatra, Indonesia; 2005; magnitude 8.6 The area around Sumatra is a seismically active one, with the Indonesian island sitting astride the volcanically active Pacific Ring of Fire. That seismically unsettled region, where the Australian Plate and Sunda Plate meet, unleashed a massive amount of energy on March 28, 2005, when a magnitude 8.6 quake struck 48 miles (78 km) west of Singkil, at a depth of 18 miles (30 km). More than 1,300 people were killed, another 340 were injured and hundreds of buildings were destroyed, mostly on the island of Nias. The quake was felt as far away as India and Sri Lanka. The earthquake occurred because the Australian Plate is moving to the northeast at a rate of 2 inches (50 millimeters) per year and is diving into the mantle at the Sunda Trench. According to the USGS, the massive quake was unleashed in the aftermath of the massive Indian Ocean earthquake of 2004 as the faults in the region continued to adjust to that seismic shift. 11. Off the west coast of northern Sumatra, 2012, magnitude 8.6 On April 11, 2012, a magnitude 8.6 temblor struck off the coast of northern Sumatra. Because it struck a few hundred miles off the coast, it was felt as strong shaking in only a few population centers, such as Banda Aceh and Meulaboh, Indonesia. It caused only light structural damage in those metropolitan regions, according to the USGS. Light shaking could be felt as far away as Mumbai, India, and Broome, Australia. Two people were killed directly by the quake, eight died of heart attacks and 12 were injured. 10. Assam-Tibet, 1950, magnitude 8.6 At least 1,500 people died across eastern Tibet and Assam, India, when this temblor shook the region on Aug. 15, 1950. Ground cracks, large landslides and sand volcanoes struck the area. The quake was felt in China's Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, and as far away as Kolkata, India. The quake caused large landslides that blocked rivers. When the rivers finally burst through the walls of debris, waves inundated several villages and killed hundreds of people. This quake is commonly called the Assam-Tibet earthquake or the Assam earthquake, even though the epicenter was in Tibet. The quake struck at the intersection of the most vigorous collision of continental plates on the planet, where the Indian Plate smashes into the Eurasian Plate and dives beneath it. The slow-motion crash helped create the massive Himalayas. 9. Rat Islands, Alaska; 1965; magnitude 8.7 Alaska had been a state for only six years when this huge earthquake triggered a tsunami over 30 feet (10 m) high on Feb. 4, 1965. Despite its size, the quake caused little damage due to its remote location at the tip of the Aleutian Islands. The tsunami was reported in Hawaii and spread as far as Japan. The temblor was the result of the Pacific Plate diving beneath the North American Plate at the Alaska-Aleutian megathrust, which has been the location of many megathrust earthquakes. The quake cracked wood buildings and split an asphalt runway. Hairline cracks also formed in the runways at the U.S. Coast Guard's Loran Station. 8. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia; 2025; magnitude 8.8 On July 29, 2025, a magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck approximately 40 miles (60 km) from Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula, at a depth of 12.8 miles (20.7 km). The earthquake generated multiple tsunamis, with warnings issued in regions across the Pacific, including North America, South America, Japan, Russia and Pacific island nations. The earthquake occurred when the Pacific plate rubbed against the North American plate. According to the USGS, the likely cause was a slip over a large fault area. It was the largest earthquake since 2011's magnitude 9 Tohoku earthquake in Japan. 7. Off the coast of Ecuador, 1906, magnitude 8.8 On Jan. 31, 1906, a catastrophic magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit off the coast of Ecuador and Colombia and generated a strong tsunami that killed 500 to 1,500 people. The tsunami spread along the coast of Central America, and even lapped at the shorelines in San Francisco and Japan. The earthquake occurred along the boundary between the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. Because it hit more than 100 years ago, reports are spotty. But according to the USGS, witnesses reported a huge rush of water in Honolulu Bay. All the steam and sailboats in the bay were turned around, and then a sudden flood tide roared inland. 6. Offshore Maule, Chile; 2010; magnitude 8.8 On Feb. 27, 2010, an earthquake and tsunami hit central Chile. At least 500 people were killed and 800,000 were displaced by the natural disaster. More than 1.8 million people were affected, and the total economic loss was estimated at $30 billion. Like many other quakes on this list, this temblor took place along the seismically active boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, which can release bone-shatteringly strong shaking. The quake hit just over a month after the disastrous magnitude 7.0 quake in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, which killed more than 200,000 people. 5. Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia; 1952; magnitude 9.0 The world's first recorded magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the east coast of Kamchatka on Nov. 4, 1952. The quake generated a 43-foot (13 m) tsunami locally. The tsunami rocked Crescent City, California. No one died, but in Hawaii, property damage was estimated at up to $1 million ($11.12 million in today's dollars). The waves tossed boats onto the beach, caused houses to collide, destroyed piers, scoured beaches and moved road pavement. 4. Tōhoku, Japan; 2011; magnitude 9.1 On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.1 quake triggered a tsunami that left more than 15,700 people dead, more than 4,600 missing, over 5,300 injured and more than 130,900 displaced, according to the USGS. More than 332,000 buildings, 2,100 roads, 56 bridges and 26 railways were damaged as a result of the quake. The quake also damaged nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, leading to one of the biggest nuclear disasters in history. This earthquake was the largest ever recorded in Japan, and cost an estimated $309 billion in damage. For weeks afterward, strong aftershocks above magnitude 6.0, and even 7.0, continued to rock the region, and the quake sent tsunami waves as far as Hawaii, California and the Galapagos Islands. Even in distant Antarctica, the quakes cracked large slabs of ice from the Sulzberger Ice Shelf, according to the USGS. The quake was caused by thrust faulting near the Japan Trench, the boundary between the Pacific and North American plates. 3. Sumatra-Andaman Islands, 2004, magnitude 9.1 This quake was the third-largest earthquake in history and the largest since the 1964 earthquake in Prince William Sound, Alaska (see #2). In total, nearly 300,000 people were killed or presumed dead, and about 1.2 million people were displaced by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in 10 countries in Southeast Asia and East Africa. Extremely strong shaking was felt in Banda Aceh, but the deadliest aspect of this quake was the resulting tsunami, which caused more deaths than any other in recorded history up to that point. The tsunami was recorded nearly worldwide on tide gauges in the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The massive quake struck one day after Christmas along the interface of the Indian and Burma tectonic plates and was caused by the release of stress that developed as the Indian Plate dived beneath the Burma microplate. The massive fault zone, which was offshore, was as long as California, according to the USGS. 2. Prince William Sound, Alaska; 1964; magnitude 9.2 This great earthquake and ensuing tsunami took 128 lives and caused about $311 million in property loss. The earthquake damage was heavy in many towns, including Anchorage, which was about 75 miles (120 km) northwest of the epicenter. The quake, which struck on March 27, 1964, ruptured along a seismically active fault between the North American and Pacific plates. The shaking lasted about 3 minutes. Landslides in Anchorage caused heavy damage. Huge slides occurred in the downtown business section, and water mains and gas, sewer, telephone and electrical systems were disrupted throughout the area. 1. Valdivia, Chile; 1960; magnitude 9.5 Approximately 1,655 people died in the largest earthquake ever recorded, which struck Valdivia, Chile, on May 22, 1960. Thousands more were injured, and millions were left homeless. Southern Chile suffered $550 million in damage. The quake triggered a tsunami that killed 61 people in Hawaii, 138 in Japan and 32 in the Philippines. The earthquake struck where the Nazca Plate dives underneath the South American Plate, on the Peru-Chile Trench. Editor's Note: This article was originally published on 2012. Solve the daily Crossword
