How James Webb Space Telescope is solving the Hubble mystery and confirming the universe’s age
Edited By Abhinav Yadav
Published: Jun 05, 2025, 20:52 IST | Updated: Jun 05, 2025, 20:52 IST
James Webb Space Telescope helps solve the mystery of the universe’s expansion by measuring galaxy speeds more precisely. New results bring scientists closer to agreeing on the Hubble constant, improving our understanding of the universe’s age, size, and future.
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(Photograph: ESA)
Webb Telescope and the Universe’s Expansion
For years, scientists disagreed on how fast the universe is growing. The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is now helping to measure this speed more accurately.
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(Photograph: NASA | JPL-Caltech)
What Is the Hubble Constant?
The Hubble constant tells us how quickly galaxies move away from each other. It is a key number for understanding the size and age of the universe.
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(Photograph: NASA)
Two Ways to Measure Expansion
Scientists use two main methods: one looks at ancient light from the Big Bang, and the other measures how far galaxies are moving today. These methods gave different answers, causing debate.
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(Photograph: NASA)
How Webb Improves Measurements
JWST uses powerful infrared cameras to see distant stars and galaxies more clearly. This helps astronomers measure distances and galaxy speeds with less error.
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(Photograph: NASA)
New Results Bring Agreement
A new study led by Professor Wendy Freedman used JWST to measure 10 galaxies. The results matched earlier numbers from the Big Bang, helping to solve the disagreement.
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(Photograph: NASA)
Why It Matters for Science
With better agreement, scientists trust their models of the universe more. This helps us understand not just how fast the universe is growing, but also its history and future.
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(Photograph: NASA)
What’s Next for the Webb Telescope?
Researchers plan to use JWST to study more distant galaxy clusters. These new measurements could make our understanding of the universe’s expansion even clearer.
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