The Webb telescope: a source of wonder that is both aesthetic and technological | Monica Grady

Some of the most detailed images of the universe have never been seen before. Astronomers and journalists were happy to see the first pictures from the James Webb space telescope. The images showed that the telescope was working and the pictures would be more attractive to view on a newspaper's front page than the candidates for leadership of the Conservative party.

The first images are amazing. Details of the birth and death of stars, as well as all the stages in between, can be seen by a specialist astronomer. The number and diversity of exoplanets, and how instruments on the telescope will be able to detect and analyse exoplanetary atmospheres, are some of the topics they continue to discuss. The first sign of life on a planet outside the solar system could be recorded by the JWST.

These discoveries are important for astronomy and astrophysics. For many people, the closest they can get to the study of stars is a daily horoscope. Increasing the amount of knowledge is a good thing. Understanding the origin of the universe is a question that drives many scientists. Is the cost worth it? The JWST may benefit us all.

The images are inspiring. The joy in seeing the beauty in others. Some of the finest artists use the colour and texture of the pictures we have seen to create their masterpieces. Turner or Monet would have been moved to paint if they had seen the shot. How can poets and musicians be inspired by the JWST and enriched by their interpretations?

Practical benefits have already come from the telescope. The scientists who will interpret the results aren't the real heroes. The instrument specialists who designed and built the equipment that will detect planets are not included. Engineers and technologists are the heroes. Engineers pushing at the limits of technology have enabled the JWST to push the limits of time. Opportunities to apply the advances in one field inevitably follow.

So far, what advances have been made? The design of the mirror has resulted in two of them. A telescope is a bucket of radiation that can be collected in a period of time. The first picture to be released was of a group of galaxies. It took just over 12 hours for it to be collected, compared to several weeks for the less distinct version. The bigger your bucket, the quicker you can get a picture.

The mirror on the JWST is made from a metal that is lighter in weight than other metals. The first technological spin-out was recognised because of the 18 hexagonally shaped plates that were used to make it. Plates have to be straight. The ability of the telescope to produce useful results is ruined by distortion. It can't be fixed by physical additions to the structure because it's a million miles away from Earth.

The engineers used an improved sensor to look for small bumps and humps in the mirror's surface that were less than the width of a human hair. In the health sector, this technology is being used to look for eye problems in a more rapid way. The sensor is expected to find many other uses, such as detection of swelling in blood vessels and impurities in semi-conductors

The array was unfolded after the JWST arrived. The segments had to be aligned using tiny motoractuators. The amount of time required to align the mirrors was less than a human's lifetime. A new generation of smaller, automatically controlled motors has a wide range of applications, starting with precision-positioning of surgical instruments through to life detection in hazardous situations. The beauty of the images will always be with us.

There is one last thought. It may have escaped your notice, but I did not refer to the JWST. This is due to the fact that it isn't Nasa'sJWST. The European and Canadian space agencies collaborated with Nasa to design and build the project.

The UK played a major role in the design and build of the mid-IR instrument on the JWST. The UK has a thriving space industry, with government figures showing it added some $16.5 billion to our economy in the year to the end of March. Even though the economy is contracting, the space sector has a positive growth forecast.