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With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers are now able to peer so far back in time that we are approaching the epoch where we think that the first galaxies were created. Throughout most of the history of the Universe, galaxies seemingly tend to follow a tight relation between how many stars they have formed, and how many heavy elements they have formed. But for the first time we now see signs that this relation between the amount of stars and elements does not hold for the earliest galaxies. The reason is likely that these galaxies simply are in the process of being created, and have not yet had the time to create the heavy elements.

THE EARLY UNIVERSE:

Astronomers discover newborn galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope

Using the Hubble Space Telescope, an international team of astronomers led by researchers at the Cosmic Dawn Center in Copenhagen, have investigated a galaxy seen almost 11 billion years back in time. Contrary to typical observations, the galaxy was discovered not by the light it emits, but by the light it absorbs. The galaxy itself evades observations, but has at least one nearby companion. Together, these galaxies comprise an early group which may later evolve to resemble the Local Group in which we live.

THE EARLY UNIVERSE:

A galaxy group in the early Universe

An international research collaboration (EGRIP) headed by ice core scientists from the University of Copenhagen has attained their goal of drilling to the bottom of the ice sheet. It marks the first time that this has been achieved in an ice stream, where vast amounts of ice slide coastwards. The breakthrough could be critical for understanding and projecting rising sea levels.

GREENLAND ICE SHEET:

Pay dirt for ice core scientists in East Greenland as they reach bedrock

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have discovered that old grandfather clocks and human cells have a central thing in common: They move in synchronisation. This strengthens the performance of our cells and makes them better at combating diseases This new knowledge is an important step towards understanding and preventing diseases such as cancer and diabetes and has been published in the prestigious journal Cell Systems.

New understanding of the body’s cells: Synchronise like pendulum clocks

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See all the recipients of the Niels Bohr Institute's Medal of Honor since 2010.

Recipients of the Niels Bohr Institute's Medal of Honour since 2010

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At the Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, we do research and teach within a broad spectrum of physics areas: Quantum computers and communication, astrophysics, particle physics, computational physics, solid state physics, climate and geophysics, and biophysics.

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THE EARLY UNIVERSE:

Astronomers discover newborn galaxies with the James Webb Space Telescope

With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers are now able to peer so far back in…

The early Universe:

A galaxy group in the early Universe

Contrary to typical observations, the galaxy was discovered not by the light it emits, but by the…

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