The James Webb Space Telescope is proving to be the most sensitive telescope ever for detecting infrared cosmic light (wavelengths just longer than those which humans can see). Radiation of this kind is interesting to astronomers for three reasons. First, it is better at penetrating dust clouds than visible light is, illuminating hitherto hidden regions where stars and solar systems are forming and it also corresponds to the emissions of cool objects such as planets, including those potentially capable of hosting life. The telescope’s ability to detect infrared is set to spark a revolution in astronomy. Do you think that by detecting infrared light, it will help analyse everything from early stars to space oddities?

