π Space

How Space telescopes unravel the mysteries of the cosmos

3 episodes

1

James Webb Space Telescope: the new “Hubble”?
2

In the space between galaxies: dark matter and interstellar dust
3

How do solar winds impact Earth?

Épisode 1/3

James Webb Space Telescope: the new “Hubble”?

Isabelle Dumé, Science journalist

On November 17th, 2021

3 min reading time

Philippe Laudet

Astronomy and Astrophysics Program Manager at CNES

Key takeaways

A new space telescope, named James Webb (JWST), will be launched later this year onboard an Ariane 5 rocket – described as being the successor of the renowned Hubble Space Telescope.
With a 6.5-metre-diameter segmented mirror, three times the size of Hubble’s and is 400 times more sensitive than current ground-based or space-based infrared telescopes.
It will observe infrared waves helping researchers trace them back to the birth of stars and as far back as 200 million after the Big Bang.
Data collected by the JWST will also give us more information about the atmosphere of ~10 exoplanets discovered over past decade.

Épisode 2/3

In the space between galaxies: dark matter and interstellar dust

Isabelle Dumé, Science journalist

On November 17th, 2021

3 min reading time

David Elbaz

Astrophysicist and Scientific Director of the CEA Astrophysics Department

Key takeaways

Space telescopes give us the opportunity to collect crucial data about the Universe, which are unobtainable and invisible from Earth.
Those observations provide us with more knowledge on the composition of space; for example, we now know that galaxies float in ‘plasma’, and that they can lose some of their own matter through galactic winds.
New ways of observing space can drive technical innovation. And some of them can be useful to everyday objects on Earth, such as our mobile phones.

Épisode 3/3

How do solar winds impact Earth?

Isabelle Dumé, Science journalist

On November 17th, 2021

4 min reading time

Lina Hadid

CNRS Research Fellow at the Plasma Physics Laboratory (LPP)

Key takeaways

Ejections from the surface of the sun, as well as solar winds, generate so-called ‘solar storms’ that impact the Earth’s magnetic outer layer (magnetosphere).
There are two types of solar wind events; “fast” winds that can reach 800 km/s, and “slow”, which move at speeds of 400 km/s.
The collision between these winds and the Earth’s atmosphere creates the polar auroras – or Northern Lights.
Scientists observe and analyse the properties of turbulence created in the atmospheres of planets to learn more about them.

Contributors

Isabelle Dumé

Science journalist

Isabelle Dumé holds a PhD in physics. She collaborates with various scientific magazines and media, public and private institutions, and actors in higher education and research in France and worldwide.