--- title: "Scientists May Have Really Screwed Up on Early James Webb Findings" description: "The James Webb Space Telescope has been so impressive that it’s making even astronomers a bit too eager about its incredible findings." date: "2022-09-30" modified: "2022-09-30" authors: - name: "Frank Landymore" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/flandymore" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-early-james-webb-findings" categories: - "James Webb Space Telescope" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "james webb space telescope" - "NASA" - "the digest" --- # Scientists May Have Really Screwed Up on Early James Webb Findings ![The James Webb Space Telescope has been so impressive that it’s making even astronomers a bit too eager about its incredible findings.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Star-Struck The James Webb Space Telescope has been so impressive that it’s making even astronomers a bit too eager about its [incredible observations](). When the first batch of data dropped earlier this summer, many dived straight into analysis and putting out papers. But according to [new reporting by *Nature*](), the telescope hadn't been fully calibrated when the data was first released, which is now sending some astronomers scrambling to see if their calculations are now obsolete. The process of going back and trying to find out what parts of the work needs to be redone has proved "thorny and annoying," one astronomer told *Nature*. Another griped that "I don’t think anybody really expected this to be as big of an issue as it’s becoming." ## Getting Heady When looking at celestial bodies extremely far away, calibration is paramount — and very difficult. It might take a few weeks before the next calibration updates from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) are released. With more time comes more refinement, and the accuracy of the telescope’s findings will no doubt continue to improve. According to Jane Rigby, the telescope’s operations project scientist at the Goddard Space Flight Center, the STScI "made it clear" that at this early a stage, the calibrations weren’t going to be fully fine tuned. But since it’s been so long since there’s been a new telescope, Rigby told *Nature*, that reality probably flew over a lot of astronomers’ heads. ## Trust the Process As with any advanced new piece of research equipment, it's going to take time to understand the capabilities and limitations of the Webb. Researchers have [separately warned]() that current models for exoplanet data analysis might not be good enough for the Webb's exquisitely sensitive sensors. And in some cases, researchers have simply been surprised to find that the scope's observations [contradict their best theories]() — although, generally speaking, they [find that phenomenon thrilling](). At the end of the day, none of this undermines the James Webb’s groundbreaking capabilities. Rather, it’s a brutal reminder that neither scientists nor their equipment are infallible. And heck, we all get carried away sometimes. **More on the James Webb:** *[Webb and Hubble Release Amazing Views of NASA's Asteroid Collision]()* ## Author At Futurism, my work has often centered on bringing a sense of clarity and insight to complex topics ranging from the regulation of emerging technologies to the esoteric ideologies of Silicon Valley executives, while striving not to lose the poetic sense of awe inspired by often-obscure fields like astrophysics and quantum computing. I broke the story of CNET using AI to produce articles that turned out to be riddled with factual errors and plagiarism — a dam-breaking inflection point, as I've reported, that's inspired copycats and endless discourse while beguiling stakeholders ranging from tech giants to purveyors of spam around the web. My work at Futurism has been cited by publications including CBS News, the Los Angeles Times, Vice, Gizmodo, Engadget, the Verge, and Vanity Fair. I grew up in locales ranging from India to China, and now live in the exotic suburbs of Virginia. In my free time, I'm an avid reader of weird sci-fi literature, an aficionado of East Asian cinema, and, regrettably, a relapsed gamer. Allegedly, I’m working on a debut novel, currently untitled. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()