From the Big Bang to Now: James Webb Unveils the Endless Mystery of Dust.
Makani means “wind” in Hawaiian, and rarely has a name been so appropriate. This distant galaxy has been expelling massive streams of gas and dust for millions of years. However, what has been observed in it does not fit with the known physical laws: particles that should have been destroyed by heat continue to shine.
The discovery that should not exist
A team led by Sylvain Veilleux, an astronomer from the University of Maryland, detected with the James Webb Telescope the first evidence of dust in the circumgalactic medium (CGM) surrounding Makani. The discovery made on August 25, 2025, marks a milestone: it has never been confirmed before that dust could survive in an environment of 10,000 Kelvin, temperatures high enough to vaporize any microscopic grain.
An unlikely journey through the cosmos
Scientists believe that the key lies in a kind of cold gas cocoon that would have protected the dust during its journey. It raises a dilemma for astrophysics: if the dust survives in those conditions, it could also travel much greater distances, even reaching the intergalactic medium, regions located a million light-years from the starting point.
Why it matters for understanding galaxies
Dust is not just cosmic debris: it is raw material for new stars and planets. Understanding how it enters and exits galaxies is fundamental to explaining their evolution. Galaxies are not static systems; they breathe. They inhale gas, transform it into stars, and exhale dust and energy into their halos. This rhythmic pulse, now documented in detail, changes the way the universe’s history has been understood since the beginning.
This “fingerprint” will allow the determination of its size, composition, and real resistance. The ultimate goal is to trace the complete path of dust, from the heart of galaxies to the intergalactic medium. NASA insists: this is not just a technical discovery, but a reminder that every grain of cosmic dust holds memories of the life and death of stars.
