.. thanks ultron.. and intel.. The Rainbow Bridge from Asgard in "The Mighty Thor", directed by Lars von Trier.. article copy-and-pasted from the website called "Daily Galaxy".. article written by Jessica Bennett... thanks Jessica Bennett..

Daily Galaxy 49.8K Followers The Blazing Rainbow in Space That Could Reveal How Earth Was Born Story by Jessica Bennett • 13h • 4 min read Image credit: (ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, M. Matsuura, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), N. Hirano, M. Zamani/CC BY 4.0) | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel Image credit: (ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, M. Matsuura, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), N. Hirano, M. Zamani/CC BY 4.0) | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel © Daily Galaxy CA Astronomers are uncovering the earliest stages of planet formation with the help of technologies like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Recent findings from the Butterfly Nebula, 3,400 light-years away, provide crucial evidence on how dust from dying stars may hold the key to understanding Earth’s origins. A study published in The Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (Matsuura et al., 2025) reveals new insights into the crystallization of cosmic dust, shedding light on the processes that shaped our planet. Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance in Ontario (Check Postcode) Ad Who Has the Cheapest Car Insurance in Ontario (Check Postcode) Car Insurance 2025 call to action icon Cosmic Dust: A Puzzle Finally Starting to Make Sense “For years, scientists have debated how cosmic dust forms in space. But now, with the help of the powerfulJames Webb Space Telescope, we may finally have a clearer picture,” says Mikako Matsuura, an astrophysicist at Cardiff University. The central question is how the microscopic grains of dust in space contribute to the formation of stars and planets. Cosmic dust is formed when dying stars expel their outer layers, enriching the surrounding interstellar medium with particles that can condense into the raw materials for new planetary systems. The Butterfly Nebula offers a perfect example of this phenomenon, acting as a cosmic factory for dust, some of which is even crystallizing in ways that are helping researchers understand how the essential components of life might have formed. The JWST’s infrared capabilities have allowed scientists to peer deeper into the nebula than ever before, detecting both amorphous dust grains and neatly ordered crystalline structures that form under different conditions in space. This marks a major leap forward in cosmic research, as it sheds light on how these dust grains might evolve in different parts of space and how they could eventually contribute to the creation of planets and stars. “We were able to see both cool gemstones formed in calm, long-lasting zones and fiery grime created in violent, fast-moving parts of space, all within a single object,” Matsuura notes. This discovery not only adds complexity to the understanding of cosmic dust but also helps scientists grasp how the basic materials of planets, including Earth, come together. Related video: JWST Just Uncovered A Cosmic Mystery! (AstroKobi) Breaking Space news The most powerful telescope in space, JWST, Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:52 AstroKobi JWST Just Uncovered A Cosmic Mystery! 0 View on Watch View on Watch The Role of the Butterfly Nebula in Planetary Evolution Located in the southern constellation of Scorpius, the Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302) has long been a subject of fascination due to its complex and stunningly beautiful structure. The nebula is the result of a dying star casting off its outer layers, leaving behind a white dwarf at its core. The nebula’s unique shape—resembling butterfly wings—comes from the two high-speed outflows of material from the dying star, which are propelled into space by intense forces. It is within this environment that new insights into cosmic dust formation are being uncovered. Astronomers have noted that the Butterfly Nebula is not just an aesthetic marvel, but also an active site for the production of important cosmic materials. The dust created within the nebula is rich in silicate minerals such as forsterite, enstatite, and quartz—substances that are key to forming rocky planets. The discovery that dust can form into crystalline structures in such a violent environment is revolutionary. These crystals, which can grow over long periods of time, may eventually coalesce into larger bodies, potentially serving as the seeds for planet formation. This process, happening in the nebula’s central torus of dust, has profound implications for how stars and planets are formed and how life might have originated on Earth. Image Image © Daily Galaxy CA Infrared Insights: How JWST is Changing Our View of Space The James Webb Space Telescope has proven to be a game-changer in astrophysics. In the case of the Butterfly Nebula, JWST’s ability to capture long-wavelength infrared light through the thick layers of dust has revealed crucial details that were previously hidden from view. Infrared light can penetrate through dust clouds that scatter and absorb visible light, making it the perfect tool for studying the interior of nebulae like this one. In combination with radio observations from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the data gathered has provided a comprehensive picture of the processes taking place in the nebula. Australia Pushes Back: How Canberra Responded to U.S. Tariffs – Think Nest Ad Australia Pushes Back: How Canberra Responded to U.S. Tariffs – Think Nest thinknest.info call to action icon For example, JWST was able to detect both large, crystalline dust grains and smaller, more chaotic soot-like particles. These findings suggest that the material in the nebula is undergoing a complex process of transformation, with some grains growing into larger crystals while others remain amorphous. This combination of dust types, observed in the same object, demonstrates the varied environments in which dust forms across space—ranging from calm, slow-moving zones to violent, high-speed regions. This duality of dust types is one of the key discoveries of this research, showing that the very building blocks of planets are shaped in diverse and dynamic ways. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: A New Clue in the Search for Life’s Origins Another groundbreaking aspect of the study was the discovery of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Butterfly Nebula. These carbon-based molecules, which are composed of rings of carbon atoms, have long been linked to theories about the origins of life. PAHs are abundant in the interstellar medium and are thought to play a role in the chemical processes that lead to the formation of life on planets like Earth. 76% of people fail this geography quiz—can you guess all the countries by their shape? Ad 76% of people fail this geography quiz—can you guess all the countries by their shape? PopScope call to action icon The detection of PAHs in the oxygen-rich environment of the Butterfly Nebula offers important clues about the role of such molecules in space. These findings support the idea that the building blocks of life were present longbefore Earth formed, possibly traveling through space and becoming incorporated into the early stages of planetary formation. By studying these molecules in detail, astronomers can gain a better understanding of how the necessary ingredients for life might have been delivered to Earth—or to other planets in the universe—in the distant past. Enjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news. For more news like this, visit Dailygalaxy.com. Sponsored Daily Galaxy Visit Daily Galaxy A Lost Island Just Reemerged Beneath the Atlantic After 40 Million Years — And This Country Wants It Back For 300 Million Years, Fossilized Poop Was Trapped in Stone — And It’s Holding the Fingerprints of Creatures Long Gone Something Strange Is Driving the Universe Apart — And James Webb Just Confirmed It Sponsored