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Wolf-Rayet stars are known to be efficient dust producers, and the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) on NASA?s James Webb Space Telescope shows this to great effect. Cooler cosmic dust glows at the longer mid-infrared wavelengths, displaying the structure of WR 124?s nebula. The nebula is made of material cast off from the aging star in random ejections, and from dust produced in the ensuing turbulence. This brilliant stage of mass loss precedes the star?s eventual supernova, when nuclear fusion in its core stops and the pressure of gravity causes it to collapse in on itself, and then explode. As MIRI demonstrates here, Webb will help astronomers to explore questions that were previously only left to theory about how much dust stars like this create before exploding in a supernova, and how much of that dust is large enough to survive the blast and go on to serve as building blocks of future stars and planets.

Space

Six of the most amazing space pictures from 2023

This year saw an extraordinary number of awe-inspiring images of objects in space, thanks in part to the James Webb Space Telescope. Here are the ones that dazzled us most and why they are important

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Close up image of a selection of freshly flame grilled burgers in a row on a wooden counter at a London street food market. Each of the burgers has its own label, on which is written the contents of the burger. The burgers are sandwiched between glazed buns, and presented on beds of fresh green lettuce and stuffed with melted cheese and red onion. Horizontal colour image with copy space and beautiful bokeh background.

Health

Cancer in young people is rising and 2023 saw a plan to figure out why

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2PNBXXP Pack of Ozempic, antidiabetic for weight control, taken in a pharmacy in Niesky, April 13, 2023.

Health

Wegovy and Ozempic made 2023 a revolutionary year for weight loss

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Space

2023 saw thrilling space missions and new cosmic mysteries

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Read an extract from Julia by Sandra Newman

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Read an extract from Julia by Sandra Newman

Culture

‘It felt detoxifying’: Retelling 1984 from a female perspective

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‘It felt detoxifying’: Retelling 1984 from a female perspective

Culture

A Armageddon type scene after a war or a natural disaster; Shutterstock ID 3272394; purchase_order: -; job: -; client: -; other: -

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The Future review: Doom is booming in a wild tale with a major twist

Culture

Rollercoasters of the future: How VR is revolutionising thrill rides

Video

Rollercoasters of the future: How VR is revolutionising thrill rides

Video

Seventh Son author Sebastian Faulks: 'I'm 3.7 per cent Neanderthal'

Video

Seventh Son author Sebastian Faulks: 'I'm 3.7 per cent Neanderthal'

Video

HNCH05 January 1, 1984 - ......Nineteen Eighty-four - 007..Film and Television. (Credit Image: ? Moviestore/Entertainment Pictures via ZUMA Press)

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Julia review: A brilliant, devastating sequel to Nineteen Eighty-Four

Sandra Newman's sequel to the classic dystopian novel, told from the perspective of the woman at the original's heart, is doubleplusgood – not least because it reminds us how relevant George Orwell's dark vision of the future still is, says Sally Adee

Culture

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51�� Live: Inside the world's best science and tech festival

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Space

ISS livestream: Watch a live link-up with astronaut Andreas Mogensen

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Humans

Read an extract from The Seventh Son by Sebastian Faulks

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Humans

Sebastian Faulks: ‘Homo sapiens is a very odd creature’

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