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Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have just discovered the four most distant galaxies ever seen, located a little over 13 billion light-years from Earth. This means astronomers are seeing what galaxies looked like only 300 to 500 million years after the Big Bang, in the infancy of our now almost 14 billion-year-old universe, according to two new (opens in new tab) studies (opens in new tab) published April 4 in the journal Nature Astronomy.

“The frontier is moving almost every month,” Pieter van Dokkum (opens in new tab) , a professor of astronomy at Yale University who was not involved in the studies, said in a commentary (opens in new tab) published in Nature Astronomy. There are now “only 300 million years of unexplored history of the universe between these galaxies and the Big Bang,” van Dokkum added.

This may sound like familiar news, as several studies have recently claimed possible detections of even older galaxies using JWST in the past few months. The four newly discovered galaxies are different, though — astronomers have actually confirmed these are ancient galaxies and not some other celestial body, or a closer-by galaxy masquerading as a more distant one.

Related: James Webb Space Telescope discovers oldest black hole in the universe — a cosmic monster 10 million times heavier than the sun

Observations of the four oldest known galaxies in the universe, taken with the James Webb Space Telescope (Image credit: Nature Astronomy/ JWST)

For nearby galaxies, astronomers usually use color to estimate redshift, a parameter that describes distance as light waves stretch and turn redder while zooming across the expanding universe. However, this technique is a dicier choice when exploring wholly new frontiers like those being studied with JWST. In what van Dokkum describes as a “technical tour de force,” the authors of the new research used detailed measurements of the galaxies’ spectra, or the range of light they emit over different frequencies, to double-check the accuracy of the redshifts. 

These four galaxies exist in the epoch of reionization, a time when astronomers think the first stars were being created. Once they confirmed the galaxies’ ages, the researchers sized up the galaxies’ stars, finding that they were quite small, at least compared with our Milky Way. But the galaxies were also creating stars at a fast pace — something that was “surprising so early in the universe,” study co-author  Stéphane Charlot (opens in new tab) , a researcher at the Astrophysics Institute of Paris, told the French news agency AFP (opens in new tab) .related stories—The James Webb Telescope detected the coldest ice in the known universe — and it contains the building blocks of life

—25 jaw-dropping James Webb Space Telescope images

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The galaxies also don’t appear to contain any particularly complex elements, suggesting that their stars haven’t yet had time to create heavier elements and are instead made of the original hydrogen and helium atoms from the early universe, according to the researchers.

“Galaxies had to grow up fast indeed,” van Dokkum wrote, referring to the 300 million years in which these ancient galaxies formed. “To put this length of time in perspective, sharks have been around for longer!” 

When JWST launched in December 2021, astronomers hoped it would find the first galaxies — but results like these are showing that galaxies may have started earlier than anyone had previously thought. 

“The birth of the first galaxies may have been so early that it lies beyond even JWST’s powers,” van Dokkum wrote.

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Sports

2025 ALCS: Live updates and analysis from Game 3

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2025 ALCS: Live updates and analysis from Game 3

If the Toronto Blue Jays are going to bounce back, tonight’s the night.

After Toronto lost two at home to the Seattle Mariners, the American League Championship Series heads West for Game 3.

The first matchup at T-Mobile Park isn’t an elimination game, but the stakes couldn’t be much higher. It’s essentially a must-win for the top-seeded Blue Jays; only one team in MLB history has ever come back from trailing a postseason series 3-0. Meanwhile, for the Mariners, it’s a chance to get one victory away from the first World Series appearance in franchise history.

Stay here for our coverage — from the pregame lineups to the top moments during the game to our takeaways and analysis after the final pitch.

Key links: How Vlad Jr., Jays bet on each other | LCS update | Bracket

Top moments

Follow live for pitch-by-pitch coverage

Seattle goes back-to-back in the 8th for first runs since 1st inning

It’s raining homers! Alejandro Kirk‘s 3-run mash makes it 12-2

Vlad Jr. adds own home run as Jays pile on

Daulton Varsho‘s 2-RBI double caps off 5-run inning for Toronto

Blue Jays answer with their own blast — and now we’re tied

J-Rod hits 2-run home run to give M’s early lead

Josh Naylor rocking a vintage KD jersey ahead of Game 3

Lineups

Seattle leads series 2-0

Starting pitchers: Shane Bieber vs. George Kirby

Toronto

1. George Springer (R) DH
2. Nathan Lukes (L) LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
4. Anthony Santander (S) RF
5. Alejandro Kirk (R) C
6. Daulton Varsho (L) CF
7. Addison Barger (L) 3B
8. Ernie Clement (R) 2B
9. Andres Gimenez (L) SS

Seattle

1. Randy Arozarena (R) LF
2. Cal Raleigh (S) C
3. Julio Rodriguez (R) CF
4. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
5. Josh Naylor (L) 1B
6. Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
7. Dominic Canzone (L) DH
8. Victor Robles (R) RF
9. J.P. Crawford (L) SS

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Business

UK suffers blow in bid to become minerals superpower – as it’s snubbed by its own leading firm

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UK suffers blow in bid to become minerals superpower - as it's snubbed by its own leading firm

Britain’s hopes of becoming a critical minerals superpower have been dealt a severe blow after one of its leading companies abandoned its plans to build a rare earths refinery near Hull.

Pensana had pledged to build a £250m refinery on the banks of the Humber, to process rare earths that would have then been used to make magnets for electric cars and wind turbines.

The plant promised to create 126 jobs and was due to receive millions of pounds of government funding.

However, Sky News has learnt that Pensana has decided to scrap the Hull plant and will instead move its refining operations to the US.

Pensana’s chairman, Paul Atherley, said the company had taken the decision after the Trump administration committed to buying rare earths from an American mine, Mountain Pass, at a guaranteed price – something no government in Europe had done.

“That’s repriced the market – and Washington is looking to do more of these deals, moving at an absolute rate of knots,” he said.

“Europe and the UK have been talking about critical minerals for ages. But when the Americans do it, they go big and hard, and make it happen. We don’t; we mostly just talk about it.”

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Can Trump win the mineral war?

The decision comes at a crucial juncture in critical minerals and geopolitics. China produces roughly 90% of all finished rare earth metals – exotic elements essential for the manufacture of many technology, energy and military products.

Last week, Beijing imposed restrictions on the exports of rare earths, prompting Donald Trump to threaten further 100% tariffs on China.

Pensana had been seen as Britain’s answer to the periodic panics about the availability of rare earths. The site at Saltend Chemicals Park was chosen by the government to launch its critical minerals strategy in 2022.

Visiting for the official groundbreaking, the then business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “This incredible facility will be the only one of its kind in Europe and will help secure the resilience of Britain’s supplies into the future.”

He pledged a government grant to support the scheme. That grant was never received because Pensana never built its plant.

Read more from Sky News:
Analysis: China’s rare-earth controls
AirPods link to global trade war
Trump threatens extra China tariffs

Paul Atherley and Kwasi Kwarteng at a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant in July 2022. Pic: Pensana
Image:
Paul Atherley and Kwasi Kwarteng at a groundbreaking ceremony for the plant in July 2022. Pic: Pensana

Mr Atherley said he is optimistic about another project he’s involved with, to bring lithium refining to Teesside through another company, Tees Valley Lithium.

But, he said, rare earth processing is far more complex, energy-intensive and expensive, making it unviable in the UK, for the time being.

The decision is a further blow for Britain’s chemicals industry, which has faced a series of closures in recent months, including that of Vivergo, a biofuels refiner based in the same chemicals park where Pensana planned to locate its refinery.

Producers warn that Britain’s record energy costs – higher than most other leading economies – are stifling its economy and triggering an outflow of businesses.

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Politics

PM faces ‘more unanswered questions’ after evidence in China spying case released

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Scale of Chinese espionage in UK revealed as evidence in collapsed spy trial is published

Sir Keir Starmer remains under pressure over the collapse of a trial into alleged Chinese spies after witness statements revealed the government’s deputy national security adviser had warned of significant espionage in the UK.

Three witness statements from the government were released late on Wednesday amid confusion about why the prosecutions of two men accused of spying for Beijing fell apart.

Politics Hub: Follow latest updates

Ex-parliamentary researcher Christopher Cash, 30, and teacher Christopher Berry, 33, were charged last year with passing politically sensitive information to a Chinese agent between December 2021 and February 2023.

They have both denied the allegations, and the case collapsed last month. The director of public prosecutions blamed the government’s refusal to brand China a threat, sparking accusations of a “cover-up”.

Christopher Cash (L) and Christopher Berry (R) had the charges against them withdrawn in September. Pics: Reuters
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Christopher Cash (L) and Christopher Berry (R) had the charges against them withdrawn in September. Pics: Reuters

Sir Keir, who wants a “strategic and long-term” relationship with Beijing, used PMQs to announce witness statements from the case, made by deputy national security adviser Matthew Collins, would be published.

The PM has sought to blame the previous Tory government’s stance on China for the spying trial collapsing.

Sky News chief political correspondent Jon Craig said Sir Keir “will hope he’s got off the hook” by publishing the statements, but the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats say “they beg more questions than they answer”.

So what do the witness statements say?

In the first, from December 2023, Mr Collins said “large scale espionage” was being carried out against Britain.

A second, from February 2025, said Chinese spying threatened the economy.

In the documents, it was also revealed information about internal Tory politics – when the party was in government – was being fed to a Chinese intelligence handler known as “Alex”, according to counterterrorism command SO15.

This includes Mr Cash working as a researcher and “contributing to policy advice being provided to Rishi Sunak”.

The evidence adds: “It is axiomatic that this is prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK for the Chinese state to have indirect access to one of the individuals providing policy advice to the now prime minister on China, with the potential to influence that advice.”

In the most recent third document from Mr Collins, dated 4 August, he said the Chinese intelligence services remain “highly capable and conduct large scale espionage operations against the UK”.

But he also quotes the Labour manifesto from last year’s election, saying: “It is important for me to emphasise, however, that the UK government is committed to pursuing a positive relationship with China to strengthen understanding, cooperation and stability.

“The government’s position is that we will co-operate where we can; compete where we need to; and challenge where we must, including on issues of national security.”

Sir Keir had suggested the “substantive” evidence in the case was submitted under the Tories, while supplementary statements given also reflected the previous government’s position.

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What does China spy row involve?

Director of public prosecutions Stephen Parkinson said the evidence required from the government in the alleged spying case related to whether China could be considered an “enemy” under the Official Secrets Act.

None of the statements use that word.

‘Completely devoid of context’

Mr Cash and Mr Berry were both charged under the secrets act.

In a statement after the government published the statements, Mr Cash reiterated he was “completely innocent” and attacked his “trial by media”.

The collapse of the trial, meaning he can’t prove his innocence, has put him in an “impossible position”, he said.

“At no point did I intentionally assist Chinese intelligence,” he added.

Mr Cash described the statements as “completely devoid of the context that would have been given at trial”.

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China spy case: ‘What is the point in having a lawyer as PM?’

‘Yet more unanswered questions’

Sir Keir had previously said the government would not publish the evidence as it would not have been allowed by the CPS – before the CPS then denied this was the case.

Stephen Parkinson, the head of the CPS, said in a statement the prosecution was dropped after attempts to get more evidence from the government “over many months” proved unfruitful.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a statutory inquiry, with the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson saying the published statements “raise yet more unanswered questions”.

Calum Miller MP said: “Did emphasising the government’s desire for a positive relationship with China effectively cause this trial to collapse? What evidence was the CPS requesting which the government failed to provide?

“And who was aware of these statements and the evidence being asked for both among ministers and in No 10?”

Sky’s Jon Craig said a number of Commons committees are likely to open their own inquiries into the case.

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