First Light
When the first stars died, they would have spawned supernovae and "mini-quasars" — powerful black holes created by the supernovae explosions. The James Webb Space Telescope will try to confirm theories about the early universe by finding and studying these "first light" objects.

Assembly of Galaxies
A host of questions exist about galaxies. How do they form? What controls their shapes? What causes them to create stars? Webb will observe the small, early building blocks of galaxies in order to understand how they grow and evolve.

Birth of Stars and Protoplanetary Systems
Stars and planetary systems are a great mystery, inextricably linked. Observations show that stars form in groups, and many have planets — often in surprisingly close orbits around the stars. Webb will examine the birth and early evolution of stars and their planetary systems.

Planetary Systems and the Origins of Life
Are other planetary systems like ours? Could they support life? Webb will investigate the physical and chemical properties of planetary systems — including our own — and try to determine the potential for the origins of life in those systems.