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CHURCHILL,MB. - October 29, 2021:
Captured along the shoreline of Western Hudson Bay during the polar bear migration season in Autumn as polar bears congregate in the Churchill region in anticipation of getting out on to the sea ice for the winter. (Photo: Dave Sandford)

5 bear sightings today

Remembering Bears: Incredible photography from the upcoming book

Forest fire trees France

UK heatwave, Mars robots and endangered tiger cubs | The best images in science this week

Man Wearing AR Glasses

Supermoons, ancient brains and the James Webb Space Telescope | The best photos of the week

Full Buck Moon

More bang for the buck: The full Buck Moon 2022 in pictures

The bright star at the center of NGC 3132, while prominent when viewed by NASA’s Webb Telescope in near-infrared light, plays a supporting role in sculpting the surrounding nebula. A second star, barely visible at lower left along one of the bright star’s diffraction spikes, is the nebula’s source. It has ejected at least eight layers of gas and dust over thousands of years.

But the bright central star visible here has helped “stir” the pot, changing the shape of this planetary nebula’s highly intricate rings by creating turbulence. The pair of stars are locked in a tight orbit, which leads the dimmer star to spray ejected material in a range of directions as they orbit one another, resulting in these jagged rings.

Hundreds of straight, brightly-lit lines pierce through the rings of gas and dust. These “spotlights” emanate from the bright star and stream through holes in the nebula like sunlight through gaps in a cloud.

But not all of the starlight can escape. The density of the central region, set off in teal, is reflected by how transparent or opaque it is. Areas that are a deeper teal indicate that the gas and dust are denser – and light is unable to break free.

Data from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) were used to make this extremely detailed image. It is teeming with scientific information – and research will begin following its release.

This is not only a crisp image of a planetary nebula – it also shows us objects in the vast distances of space behind it. The transparent red sections of the planetary nebula – and all the areas outside it – are filled with distant galaxies.

Look for the bright angled line at the upper left. It is not starlight – it is a faraway galaxy seen edge-on. Distant spirals, of many shapes and colors, also dot the scene. Those that are farthest away – or very dusty – are small and red.

For a full array of Webb’s first images and spectra, including downloadable files, please visit: https:

James Webb Space Telescope images: Dying stars, distant galaxies and water on an exoplanet

2JG3X6W Munich, Bavaria, Germany. 7th July, 2022. A scientist displays a laser lens used at the CALA labs in Munich, Germany. The Ludwig Maximillians University of Munich, Germany announced its cooperation with Munich start-up Marvel Fusion GmbH wherein the two parties will cooperate in laser research and atomic fusion technology at the Center for Advanced Laser Applications (CALA) der LMU in Garching. The research, which is financed by the State of Bavaria, will explore laser-based nuclear fusion in an effort to create cleaner, more efficient forms of energy. In attendance were Staatsminister Markus

Meteor showers, ocean cleaning & the James Webb Telescope | The best photos of the week

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Cosmic fireworks, a stunning comet and a rare image of the Moon: The shortlist for Astronomy Photographer of the Year

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Welcome to Devil’s Valley: The world’s oldest geothermal power plant

This a photo of a meteorite and a Moonbow around a Hunter's Moon. A moonbow is technically known as a 22º moon halo. The 22º Moon Halo is formed when moonlight passes through ice crystals in the atmosphere and are refracted approximately 22º.

Moonbows: 8 stunning photos of the rare night sky phenomenon

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Buzz off buster! Bird Photographer Of The Year finalists announced

Inflating animals: 7 incredible creatures that blow up like balloons

Inflating animals: 7 incredible creatures that blow up like balloons

White Rhinoceros, Ceratotherium simum, Square-lipped Rhinoceros, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, Botswana, Africa

Back from the brink of extinction: The best conservation success stories

Jupiter, Florida - May 05, 2022: Bull sharks circle the bait box that Jordan Lempke, 27, sits on as she takes photos and watches the sharks during an eco tourism shark dive off of Jupiter, Florida on May 5, 2022. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

High-tech bee hives, bull sharks and our very own black hole: May’s best science images

Italy. Le fragole di Sofia, Crespino (Rovigo). Strawberries are picked by hand.

Future Technology

Could farming without soil help to solve our food crisis?

In pictures: The most iconic volcanic eruptions of 2021 © Shutterstock

In pictures: The most iconic volcanic eruptions of 2021