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James Webb telescope gives unprecedented open access to images of the deep universe

Researchers from Aalto University played a key role in cataloguing the largest ever sample of deep galaxies in the early universe, with all the data now publicly available in an easily searchable format.
Six images from the James Webb telescope showing galaxy clusters.
Brightest group galaxies selected from the COSMOS-Web catalog, spanning from approximately 1 to 11 billion years ago. Credit: Gozaliasl, Kartaltepe, Casey, Koekemoer, Franco — Aalto/RIT/UT Austin/IAP/CANDIDE/COSMOS Web.

was the largest General Observer programme selected for Cycle 1 of the , including imagery from some 255 hours of observation. The survey has captured some of the rarest objects in the universe, and now these for scientists – and the public alike – to delve in and make further discoveries. 

As part of this major international release, which draws on expertise from 95 universities and research institutions worldwide, two companion research papers led by astrophysicist Ghassem Gozaliasl from Aalto University demonstrate the scientific potential of the new COSMOS2025 catalog. 

‘This public release of the largest deep space catalogue ever created is a remarkable step for science and society. It democratizes access to the early universe, enabling not only scientists but also students, educators, and the public to explore our,’ says Gozaliasl. ‘It’s especially exciting that researchers from Finland have contributed to this effort — showcasing how global collaboration and open science are shaping the future of discovery.’

Gozaliasl’s latest research focuses on how galaxies grow and evolve across cosmic time, using JWST’s unprecedented imaging capabilities and modern machine learning tools.

‘Thanks to JWST and the COSMOS-Web survey, we can now trace how galaxies shut down star formation, undergo morphological transformation, and how these processes are shaped by their environment across cosmic time, even predicting galaxy properties using AI-driven methods,’ he says.

The catalogue’s public launch was announced by Rochester Institute of Technology on June 5, 2025.

A galaxy cluster with numerous stars and galaxies scattered against a dark background, with a large magenta cloud in the centre.

Astronomers observe largest ever sample of galaxies up to over 12 billion light years away

New observations give researchers unique insight into how galaxies have evolved since the universe was under a billion years old.

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New DPSP tool for doctoral studies published

A new digital DPSP tool has replaced the old DPSP tasks on students’ MyStudies portal and the approval method for supervising professors on Student Success Hub.
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Pre-examination and graduation schedules over the summer 2026

Information for doctoral students on preliminary examination of doctoral thesis, public defence and graduation over the summer 2026
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A unique joint effort – Aalto University receives EUR 9 million in donations to accelerate the energy transition

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Keys to growth: How the energy transition is making oil obsolete

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