The JWST telescope has spotted a multitude of bright galaxies in the young universe. Their ultraviolet light was barely absorbed by cosmic dust — defying previous expectations. The secret is that in the cosmic dawn, dust was born in supernova explosions and was as transparent as a freshly cleaned window pane.

As galaxies age, dust grains clump together and grow, turning that clear screen into heavy curtains that smother light. That’s why ancient galaxies blaze so intensely — their light traveled freely through unclouded dust. Over time, the same dust becomes opaque, perfectly explaining observations without needing exotic theories.