Zwicky’s Stellar Laboratory
The James Webb Space Telescope peered into I Zwicky 18, an irregular dwarf galaxy first spotted in the 1930s, revealing two distinct bursts of star formation. The telescope’s infrared capabilities expose previously hidden details about stellar evolution in this cosmic nursery. Scientists study this galaxy because it contains unusually low levels of heavy elements, similar to conditions in the early universe. The image helps astronomers understand how stars formed billions of years ago. New data suggests this galaxy is actively creating stars at rates 10 times faster than typical dwarf galaxies.