The July 22 episode of the Austin Breakdown features a discussion with a UT astronomer who will use images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope to study some of the oldest galaxies in the universe—plus, the latest on Samsung’s additional multi-billion dollar investments in Williamson County and more news from access the metro.



UT Austin to lead early projects on NASA's new telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope was launched in December 2021 with the goal of uncovering the mysteries of the early universe. As of July, JWST has now captured the sharpest infrared images of deep space to date, showcasing galaxy clusters, exoplanets, stellar life cycles and more.

As images continue to be released, astronomers across the world are conducting hundreds of hours of observation, mapping the earliest structures in cosmic history.

The University of Texas is taking part in these surveys, leading some of the first projects that study the formation of galaxies soon after the Big Bang. Steven Finkelstein, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Texas, explains the significance of JWST and the university’s early involvement with its discoveries.

Also on this episode...

The Austin Transportation Department implements a pilot program that sets a cap on scooters in part of downtown; construction commences on McKalla Station outside of Q2 Stadium; Travis County commissioners request that the Lower Colorado River Authority reform its water management plan amid increasing drought risks; and more.