James Webb Space Telescope reveals water near galactic center and stellar death

The James Webb Space Telescope has provided groundbreaking observations of stellar processes, revealing water molecules in extreme environments and capturing the final stages of a Sun-like star's life.

In a discovery that challenges existing chemical theories, the telescope identified water molecules and cosmic dust in the envelope of IRS 3, a massive star located just 0.55 light-years from Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way. Scientists previously believed the intense radiation in this region would destroy complex molecules, but spectroscopic analysis shows that water can survive and act as a vehicle for enriching its surroundings.

Additionally, NASA and the European Space Agency released new infrared images of the NGC 2392 planetary nebula, also known as the Lion Nebula. Located approximately 4,200 light-years from Earth, the images show a Sun-like star expelling its outer layers. At its center, a hot white dwarf continues to sculpt the surrounding gas and dust, creating complex structures that will evolve for several thousand years before dispersing.