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'Cosmic tornado' swirls in breathtaking new James Webb Space Telescope image

 

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope observed Herbig-Haro 49/50, an outflow from a nearby still-forming star, in high-resolution near- and mid-infrared light. The young star is off to the lower left corner of the Webb image. Intricate features of the outflow, represented in reddish-orange color, provide detailed clues about how young stars form and how their jet activity affects the environment around them. A chance alignment in this direction of the sky provides a beautiful juxtaposition of this nearby Herbig-Haro object (located within our Milky Way) with a face-on spiral galaxy in the distant background. Image released on March 24, 2025.

In an awe-inspiring revelation, NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured a mesmerizing cosmic tornado, a swirling maelstrom of gas and dust deep in the universe. This extraordinary image showcases a turbulent stellar nursery, where powerful cosmic forces are sculpting the birth of new stars in a spectacular dance of light and motion.

What is the ‘Cosmic Tornado’?

Unlike storms on Earth, this celestial vortex is created by the intense radiation and stellar winds from newborn stars. As these young, massive stars ignite, they unleash high-speed streams of charged particles, churning the surrounding gas and dust into a breathtaking spiral formation.

Why This Discovery Matters

Revealing Star Formation – The JWST’s powerful infrared capabilities allow scientists to peer through thick clouds of cosmic dust, unveiling the hidden process of star birth within these swirling regions.

Understanding Galactic Evolution – These stellar tornadoes play a crucial role in shaping galaxies, influencing how stars and planetary systems develop over millions of years.

Unprecedented Detail – With its advanced sensitivity, the JWST captures intricate structures within these turbulent regions, revealing the delicate balance of chaos and creation in space.

A Universe in Motion

The cosmic tornado image is a testament to the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the cosmos. It reminds us that space is not static but a vast, evolving masterpiece—where the forces of nature shape the very fabric of our existence.

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