Unveiling Carbon-Rich Dust Grains in the Early Universe

The James Webb Space Telescope has detected the chemical signature of carbon-rich dust grains in the early Universe, approximately one billion years after its birth. This observation suggests the presence of a different species of carbon-based molecule, possibly graphite- or diamond-like grains produced by the earliest stars or supernovae. The discovery provides insights into the production of cosmic dust and the earliest stellar populations, and was made possible by Webb's unprecedented sensitivity.