Curiosity, Light, and the James Webb Space Telescope

Learning to See Clearly: The James Webb Space Telescope and the Patience of Physics

One of the things I love most about physics is that it rewards patience.

The James Webb Space Telescope is a beautiful example of this. Decades in the making, launched carefully and unfolded with extraordinary precision, Webb is not just a more powerful telescope — it represents a shift in how we see the universe. Unlike optical telescopes that capture visible light, Webb observes primarily in the infrared, allowing us to peer through cosmic dust and look further back in time, closer to the formation of the first galaxies.

From a physics perspective, this is a reminder that what we observe depends deeply on how we observe it. Light behaves differently at different wavelengths. Dust clouds that scatter visible light become nearly transparent in the infrared. Cooler objects — forming stars, distant galaxies, planetary atmospheres — reveal themselves only when we choose the right tools and the right frame of reference.

I often see the same principle play out when working with students. Many students believe they “don’t understand physics” or that they’re “bad at math,” when in reality they’ve simply been asked to see a problem through a lens that doesn’t work for them yet. Change the wavelength, so to speak — slow down, revisit the foundations, adjust the approach — and suddenly things begin to resolve.

Webb’s discoveries remind us that understanding doesn’t always come from pushing harder. Sometimes it comes from stepping back, choosing a better perspective, and allowing clarity to emerge.

Physics is not about memorizing equations or racing toward answers. It’s about learning how to observe carefully, ask good questions, and build understanding layer by layer. The universe doesn’t reveal itself all at once — and neither does learning.

As Webb continues to send back images from the deep past, I’m reminded why I’m continually drawn back to teaching and tutoring physics: helping others learn how to see — not just the universe, but their own capacity to understand it.