Science Frontier ·
JWST finds merger scars in dead galaxies; Euclid reveals 31 ancient quasars
JWST has detected hidden structural scars from ancient mergers in 120 ‘dead’ galaxies that stopped forming stars 9 billion years ago, solving a long-standing mystery. Separately, the Euclid telescope has discovered 31 quasars from the universe’s first 800 million years, including the two most distant ever observed. In medicine, the FDA expanded approval of Vertex’s CRISPR gene therapy CASGEVY to children as young as two with sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.
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JWST reveals merger scars in galaxies that died 9 billion years ago Using deep 8-band infrared imaging, JWST detected residual asymmetry in 120 post-starburst galaxies, showing that violent mergers—not internal processes—abruptly shut down star formation during cosmic noon. The findings solve a long-standing puzzle about why some massive galaxies went dark. 12
Euclid telescope discovers 31 ancient quasars, including the two most distant ever Published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, the haul includes EUCL J172902.75+641018.1, a quasar seen just 670 million years after the Big Bang—15 million years earlier than the previous record. This dramatically increases the known quasar sample at redshift >7 to 23, offering new probes of early black hole growth and cosmic reionization. 345
FDA expands Vertex CRISPR gene therapy CASGEVY to children as young as 2 The expanded approval covers sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia, making CASGEVY the first genetic therapy available for children under 12 in the US. Clinical data showed safety and efficacy consistent with older patients, potentially preventing irreversible organ damage earlier in life. 67
Same unknown chemical signature detected on Pluto and Titan by JWST JWST observations of both Pluto and Titan have revealed a mysterious chemical signature in their atmospheres, seen in the near-infrared. The team led by Bruno Bézard (CNRS) is investigating candidates—possibly complex hydrocarbons or nitriles—that could shed light on prebiotic chemistry in cold planetary environments. 8
Super-Earth GJ 3378b in habitable zone just 25 light-years away GJ 3378b, a rocky world over twice Earth’s size, orbits a red dwarf every 21.5 days and lies within the ‘Goldilocks zone’ where liquid water could exist. At 25 light-years, it is one of the closest potentially habitable exoplanets known. 9
New gene-editing method corrects hemophilia B in mice without viruses Japanese researchers developed a nonviral gene-editing strategy that corrected hemophilia B mutations in mice, restoring clotting factor IX production. The approach avoids immune reactions common with viral vectors and lays groundwork for a potentially curative therapy. 10
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