Background Science
Science goals for the JWST
The JWST is intended to solve outstanding key questions concerning our place in the evolving Universe. It is a multi-purpose observatory covering a wide range of astronomical topics.
In order to guide the design of the telescope and its instruments, scientists identified four general topics as the core scientific themes for the JWST.
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The early Universe: What did the early Universe look like? When did the first stars and galaxies emerge?
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Galaxies over time: How did the first galaxies evolve over time? What can we learn about dark matter and dark energy?
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The lifecycle of stars: How and where do stars form? What determines how many of them form and their individual masses? How do stars die and how do their deaths impact the surrounding medium?
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Other worlds: Where and how do planetary systems form and evolve?