Will we ever know where we came from? Nasa have released a stunning image of a cloud complex 390 million light years away. But some look to the picture as proof that there are things that we will never fully understand.
'Unprecedented' images show secrets of space
Will we ever know where we came from? Nasa have released a stunning image of a cloud complex 390 million light years away. But some look to the picture as proof that there are things that we will never fully understand.
In 1962, an American astronaut was taking a beach vacation in Florida when he walked into a shop and set his heart on a small 35mm camera.
Just days later, John Glenn set off in a NasaThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme. Friendship 7 capsule with that same $40 (£30) camera in tow. He captured the first ever hand-held photograph ever taken in space.
Now, of course, our technology is far more developed. We have seen a galaxy 13.5 billion light-years away, discovered ultramassive black holesThe most massive objects in the universe. , watched neutronA part of an atom with no electrical charge. stars crashing into each other and found over 5,000 exoplanetsThe name given to any planets that exist outside the solar system..
And for the amazing image Nasa released to us on Wednesday, we have the £6.8 billion James Webb telescope to thank.
The new image shows a star-forming region made up of 50 young stars of a similar mass to our sun. Parts of the picture hint at the formation of future planetary systems. And it is a glimpse into our history.
"Our own Sun experienced a phase like this long ago, and now we have the technology to see the beginning of another's story," claimed one scientist. But with every new discovery we make, more mysteries appear.
We do not know how life was created. We do not know how planets are formed. And even the Big BangThe moment the universe came into being. It is thought that this took place in a kind of explosion from a dimensionless singularity. theory has been brought into question by new discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Even within our tiny little solar system there are unanswered questions. We still have no idea whether there was ever life on Mars. We do not know how our own Moon formed. And many astronomers strongly suspect that there is a huge ninth planet hiding away somewhere in the solar system impacting the gravityAn invisible force that pulls objects towards each other. Earth's gravity keeps us on the ground and makes things fall. It is less strong on Mars. of other planets.
<h5 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper" id="question"><strong>Will we ever know where we came from?</strong></h5>
Yes: We confirmed that the Big Bang theory was the best theory of the origin of the universe not even 60 years ago. It may not come in our lifetimes, but one day we will know where we came from.
No: The complexities of astrophysicsThe study of the physical laws and ideas that explain how the stars and planets work. are such that we will probably never know for sure if any of our theories are correct. And some of it is frankly just beyond our understanding.
Or... The mysteries of space should stay mysteries. They remind us that we cannot control everything. It is overambitious to seek an explanation for life itself.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Ultramassive black holes - The most massive objects in the universe.
Neutron - A part of an atom with no electrical charge.
Exoplanets - The name given to any planets that exist outside the solar system.
Big Bang - The moment the universe came into being. It is thought that this took place in a kind of explosion from a dimensionless singularity.
Gravity - An invisible force that pulls objects towards each other. Earth's gravity keeps us on the ground and makes things fall. It is less strong on Mars.
Astrophysics - The study of the physical laws and ideas that explain how the stars and planets work.
‘Unprecedented’ images show secrets of space

Glossary
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Ultramassive black holes - The most massive objects in the universe.
Neutron - A part of an atom with no electrical charge.
Exoplanets - The name given to any planets that exist outside the solar system.
Big Bang - The moment the universe came into being. It is thought that this took place in a kind of explosion from a dimensionless singularity.
Gravity - An invisible force that pulls objects towards each other. Earth's gravity keeps us on the ground and makes things fall. It is less strong on Mars.
Astrophysics - The study of the physical laws and ideas that explain how the stars and planets work.