In the Beginning

James Webb Space Telescope Affirms Creation

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) was designed and launched to fulfill one primary mission above all else: to “boldly go where no man has gone before.” In other words, it was sent to explore the “cosmic dawn,” the moment when starlight first illuminated the universe. This moment, according to big bang models, extends from about 180–700 million years after the cosmic creation event.

To observe the cosmic dawn, astronomers must probe whatever they can detect at a distance of many billions of light-years. Remember: due to the finite and unchanging velocity of light, distance means time. So the farther away we look, the farther back in time we are seeing the condition of the universe. Also keep in...