The “Cosmic Cliffs” are not rock at all but a turbulent interface where radiation from massive, young stars meets a cold reservoir of molecular gas. This rim of NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula lies about 7,600 light-years away and is carved by ultraviolet light and stellar winds from hot stars above the ridge. Those energies heat, ionize, and literally evaporate the surface layers, driving ripples, pillars, and cavities that give the scene its cliff-like profile.

Webb’s view merges near-infrared (NIRCam) and mid-infrared (MIRI) data. Near-IR slices through dust, exposing countless previously hidden stars; mid-IR traces the thermal glow of fine dust and complex hydrocarbons that coat the surfaces of ridges and pillars. In MIRI, young stars and their planet-forming disks shine distinctly, while jets and outflows from embedded protostars appear as narrow, golden streaks. Each jet slams into the surrounding medium, compressing gas and sometimes triggering a second round of star formation—feedback that both builds and erodes the nebula.

The color choices map invisible wavelengths to visible hues so structure and physics pop: sharp edges indicate dense clumps resisting photo-erosion; wavy “steam” is actually hot, ionized gas and dust streaming off the ridge. The large-scale cavity above the wall was blown open over time by radiation pressure and winds, while gravity within the densest knots continues collapsing material into new stars.

Beyond the drama, images like this are workhorses for science. By comparing NIRCam and MIRI brightness, researchers estimate dust temperatures, grain sizes, and the abundance of carbon-based molecules; tracking jet lengths and bow shocks yields rough ages for protostars. This high-resolution, 11,264 × 3,904-pixel mosaic turns a star-forming region into a laboratory for feedback, chemistry, and early stellar evolution—all in one frame.