A closer look at cosmic dust to shed light on galaxy evolution

Galaxies evolve through complex interactions within their baryonic components, particularly the interstellar medium (ISM) and its crucial constituent, dust. This dust influences everything from a galaxy’s appearance across various wavelengths to the processes of star formation. Understanding dust at high redshifts (beyond nearby galaxies) has been limited, leaving gaps in our knowledge of its properties and formation. The ERC-funded DistantDust project aims to bridge this gap using the James Webb Space Telescope. By analysing dust at pivotal cosmic epochs, such as Cosmic Noon and the Early Universe, alongside ground-based observatories, this project will enhance our understanding of star formation and galaxy evolution across cosmic time.