# James Webb Space Telescope Uncovers Cosmic Mysteries: From Asteroids to Universe Origins

Dive into the latest discoveries from the James Webb Space Telescope in this eye-opening episode of The Space Cowboy podcast. Learn how Webb's advanced instruments revealed surprising details about asteroid 2024 YR4, including its rocky surface and rapid spin rate – crucial knowledge for future planetary defense efforts.

Journey 130 light-years away to the HR 8799 star system, where Webb directly detected carbon dioxide in the atmospheres of four exoplanets for the first time, revolutionizing our understanding of planetary formation. Then explore Webb's most mind-bending discovery yet: evidence that galaxies throughout the universe may rotate in a preferred direction, challenging fundamental cosmological theories and suggesting our universe might have been born rotating.

From investigating why few stars form in the Milky Way's Central Molecular Zone to showcasing Webb's unprecedented infrared capabilities, this episode highlights how this remarkable telescope continues to transform our understanding of the cosmos and push the boundaries of astronomical discovery.